Bongino Clapped Back Hard at MSNBC Right Before Announcing FBI Departure

Federal Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed Wednesday that he will step down from his position in January, an announcement that came hours after a public exchange with MSNBC reporter Carol Leonnig and comments from President Donald Trump suggesting Bongino would likely return to media work.

Leonnig disclosed the interaction earlier in the day in a post on X, saying she contacted Bongino to ask whether reports about his planned departure were accurate.

According to Leonnig, Bongino responded dismissively before making his departure official later that evening.

“12:55 pm – Bongino to @MSNOWNews when I asked him for comment on story saying he was leaving his position in January. ‘Print whatever you’d like. No one believes you anyway.’ 5:16 pm – Bongino on X: ‘I will be leaving my position in January,’” Leonnig wrote.

12:55 pm – Bongino to @MSNOWNews when I asked him for comment on story saying he was leaving his position in January.
“Print whatever you’d like. No one believes you anyway.”

5:16 pm – Bongino on X:
“I will be leaving my position in January.” https://t.co/gSzkGiMEaD

— Carol Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig) December 17, 2025

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Bongino later confirmed publicly that he would be leaving the FBI in January.

In his announcement, he expressed appreciation to President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve in federal law enforcement leadership.

The confirmation followed comments made earlier in the day by President Trump, who told reporters that Bongino was expected to leave the FBI and return to his broadcasting career.

“Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show,” Trump said.

🚨 DAN BONGINO is LEAVING the FBI

“Dan did a GREAT JOB,” President Trump said.

Bongino is an absolute patriot. Thank you for your service, sir 🫡 pic.twitter.com/7NLXZoePrq

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 17, 2025

Bongino’s tenure at the FBI followed a lengthy career in law enforcement and media.

He served as a New York Police Department officer from 1995 to 1999 before joining the U.S. Secret Service, where he worked from 1999 to 2011.

After leaving government service, Bongino became a prominent conservative media figure, hosting the Fox News weekend program “Unfiltered with Dan Bongino” and later building a large national audience through his podcast, “The Dan Bongino Show.”

Following Bongino’s announcement, FBI Director Kash Patel issued a statement on X praising Bongino’s work at the bureau and crediting him with internal reforms and investigative progress.

“Dan is the best partner I could’ve asked for in helping restore this FBI. He brought critical reforms to make the organization more efficient, led the successful Summer Heat op, served as the people’s voice for transparency, and delivered major breakthroughs in long unsolved cases like the pipe bomb investigation. And that’s only a small part of the work he went about every single day delivering for America,” Patel said.

Patel added that Bongino exceeded expectations during his time as deputy director and said the country benefited from his service.

“He not only completed his mission – he far exceeded it. We will miss him but I’m thankful he accepted the call to serve. Our country is better and safer for it,” Patel said.

Dan is the best partner I could’ve asked for in helping restore this FBI. He brought critical reforms to make the organization more efficient, led the successful Summer Heat op, served as the people’s voice for transparency, and delivered major breakthroughs in long unsolved… https://t.co/o8wZOUnojP

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) December 17, 2025