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“Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show,” the president told reporters.
That comment only fueled speculation that Bongino may soon return to the media world, where he built a massive following before accepting a senior law enforcement role inside the Trump administration.
On Saturday evening, Bongino posted one final message from his official government X account, signaling the end of his time at the FBI. The post came after what he described as a particularly intense final day, one that included the dramatic capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro in a joint operation involving the War Department and the Department of Justice.
“It was a busy last day on the job. This will be my last post on this account,” Bongino wrote.
“Tomorrow I return to civilian life. It’s been an incredible year thanks to the leadership and decisiveness of President Trump. It was the honor of a lifetime to work with Director Patel, and to serve you, the American people,” he continued, before closing with, “See you on the other side.”
With Bongino’s departure, former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is expected to assume full responsibility as deputy FBI director. Bailey had been serving as co deputy director alongside Bongino since August.
Bailey brings a high profile legal background into the role. As Missouri’s attorney general, he secured several major courtroom victories, including a multi billion dollar lawsuit targeting the Chinese government over alleged COVID 19 coverups. He also led a Supreme Court challenge against major social media companies, a case that ultimately failed but succeeded in exposing widespread censorship practices tied to the Biden administration.
The deputy director position traditionally oversees the FBI’s daily operations, making Bailey’s expected promotion a consequential shift inside the bureau.
Bongino’s tenure was not without internal tension. Reports last summer detailed a growing rift between Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi. According to those accounts, Bongino raised serious concerns about how certain high profile investigations were being handled, including matters related to Jeffrey Epstein. At one point, he reportedly warned that he would resign if those issues were not addressed.
More recently, Bongino offered rare personal insight into his decision to leave during an appearance on Fox and Friends. Speaking candidly, he described the toll the job took on his family and personal life.
“I mean I gave up everything for this. I mean you know my…my wife is struggling. I’m not a victim. I’m not Jim Comey. It’s fine,” Bongino said. “I did this and I’m proud I did it. But if you think we’re there for tea and crumpets…Well, I mean, Kash is there all day.”
He went on to describe the grueling schedule inside FBI leadership.
“Our offices are linked. He turns on the faucet, I hear it. He gets there at like six o’clock in the morning. He doesn’t leave till seven at night. You know, I’m in there at 7:30 in the morning,” Bongino continued.
The personal cost, he admitted, became impossible to ignore.
“He uses the gym, I work out in my apartment, but I stare at these four walls all day in DC, you know, by myself divorced from my wife – not divorced, but I mean separated-divorced, and it’s hard,” Bongino continued. “I mean, you know, we love each other and it’s hard to be apart.”
For Bongino, the message was clear. His time in government was meaningful, intense, and deeply personal. As he steps back into civilian life, supporters are already watching closely to see where his voice resurfaces next.
