Geraldo Rivera Stuns CNN Host With Comments On Dan Bongino’s Fitness To Lead USSS
As President-elect Donald Trump considers Dan Bongino to lead the U.S. Secret Service, the former agent and conservative commentator has become a focal point of contention. During a CNN segment, Geraldo Rivera delivered a surprisingly mixed review of Bongino’s qualifications.
Rivera began by addressing his personal friction with Bongino, a former Secret Service agent who has built a reputation as a staunch Trump ally and media firebrand. “I can’t imagine anyone who I feel more fiercely combative with than Dan Bongino,” Rivera admitted. “If he were to walk into a bar and I was having a beer, you know, we’d probably square off. We disagree on everything.”
Yet, Rivera tempered his critique by acknowledging Bongino’s integrity and commitment to public service. “I have no issue at all with his honesty, his credibility, his character, his patriotism, his love of the Secret Service,” he conceded. “I think all those things are positive for Bongino.”
Despite his polarizing public persona, Rivera suggested that Bongino’s passion and operational background might prove advantageous. “If I was a target and Bongino was on the job, I feel that Bongino would keep me safe,” Rivera said emphatically. “He would do the job.”
“He’s a provocateur,” Rivera said. “But I go back to what I said—he has patriotism and a love for the agency. I think those things are undeniable.”
“I think that in some ways all of these people in the Cabinet, and you could name others as well, Dr. Oz, are great on TV. They are bigger than life. They’re great communicators. I see where the president elect who’s going with this cabinet.”
Rivera noted, “Can they do the job? The day-to-day, the administrative stuff of running these businesses—and they are giant businesses, even though they’re government agencies—you know, I guess we’ll see.”
Bongino’s nomination is emblematic of Trump’s unconventional approach to assembling his Cabinet for his second term. Sources familiar with the deliberations told CNN that Trump’s dissatisfaction with the Secret Service’s performance in recent months is driving the potential shake-up.
The agency came under intense scrutiny this summer following two assassination attempts targeting Trump during his campaign.
In the wake of the Pennsylvania incident, Bongino described the Secret Service’s response as a “catastrophic failure” and praised Trump for his quick instincts. “Donald Trump knew to duck,” Bongino said at the time. “He saved his own life.”
Known for his fiery rhetoric and unwavering support for Trump, Bongino’s profile as a media personality sharply contrasts with the typically low-profile nature of Secret Service leadership. However, his background as a Secret Service agent during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations lends him credibility within law enforcement circles.
After leaving the Secret Service, Bongino transitioned into politics and media. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress three times as a Republican. In the media realm, he became a prominent conservative voice, hosting “The Dan Bongino Show.”
