Trump appears to confirm Dan Bongino will step down from FBI role | Trump administration

Donald Trump appears to have confirmed reports that the FBI deputy director, Dan Bongino, is planning to step down, telling reporters on Wednesday that “Dan did a great job” and that he thinks Bongino “wants to go back to his show”.

The US president made the remarks while answering questions from various reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.

Earlier on Wednesday, MS Now reported Bongino “quietly told confidants he plans to formally leave his job early in the new year”. Citing eight people briefed on his account, the outlet noted that Bongino wouldn’t be returning to the bureau’s headquarters this month.

Those individuals also told MS Now that Bongino, the number two official at the FBI under Director Kash Patel, considered announcing his departure on Friday, 19 December. Bongino did not confirm his plans to the outlet, but said: “Print whatever you’d like. No one believes you anyway. Thanks.”

The former Secret Service agent and NYPD officer has hosted several shows in his career, including guest-host stints on both The Sean Hannity Show and The Mark Levin Show. He later launched the Bongino Report and The Dan Bongino Show.

The Guardian has contacted the FBI for comment.