Never-Trump commentator Tara Setmayer got into a heated exchange with Republican commentator Scott Jennings over President Donald Trump’s Sunday announcement naming former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino as Deputy Director of the FBI.
Setmayer and Jennings took part in a panel discussion during Monday’s broadcast of “CNN NewsNight” with host Abby Phillip, and Jennings kicked off the debate when he took issue with the way Setmayer had characterized Bongino’s qualifications for the job.
WATCH:
Scott Jennings brutally reminds CNN Abby Philip that Dan Bongino’s appointment to Deputy FBI Director is based on President Trump’s authority and not on Democrats who refuse to get over their embarrassing election loss. pic.twitter.com/EEHkvpghAH
— DeVory Darkins (@devorydarkins) February 25, 2025
“You just denigrated Bongino’s law enforcement credentials. He was a cop and a Secret Service agent, you denigrated his academic credentials, he has a Masters Degree —” Jennings began.
“Just because he’s a police officer doesn’t mean he’s qualified to run a 38,000-person, $11 billion budget agency, just like Pete Hegseth being a National Guardsman isn’t either … thank you for your service —” Setmayer interrupted, but Jennings was not finished.
“But you know what does? You know what does? Because he enjoys the confidence and the pleasure of the president,” Jennings said, alluding to the fact that Trump, as president, does not have to make staffing decisions based “qualifications” approved by Setmayer or anyone else.
Setmayer then argued that the real problem was Trump’s “judgment,” which she claimed was terrible.
“I’m sorry that you are not yet over the outcome of the election,” Jennings shot back. “In our system, we elect people — we elect people and they appoint people to office. That’s the way it works.”
“No. Look at what’s happening to our country! And I’ll never be over it, Scott. This is dismantling our democracy in front of our eyes,” she complained, giving no evidence as to how Dan Bongino serving in the FBI would “dismantle” democracy. “And you guys are okay with this.”
Former New York City Council Republican leader Joe Borelli chimed in then, referencing a few of former President Joe Biden’s appointees and suggesting they might also have been unqualified.
Borelli mentioned former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s meteoric rise to lead the Department of Transportation along with “the guy who was stealing luggage,” adding, “I think that anyone who’s at any point defending the Biden administration …”
“But this is the FBI,” Phillip interjected, and then attempted to pin Jennings down on the issue.
He argued simply that based on law enforcement experience, academic qualifications, and the fact that ultimately he and others serve “at the pleasure of the president,” Bongino was certainly qualified to take on the role.
[#item_full_content]
[[{“value”:”
Never-Trump commentator Tara Setmayer got into a heated exchange with Republican commentator Scott Jennings over President Donald Trump’s Sunday announcement naming former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino as Deputy Director of the FBI.
Setmayer and Jennings took part in a panel discussion during Monday’s broadcast of “CNN NewsNight” with host Abby Phillip, and Jennings kicked off the debate when he took issue with the way Setmayer had characterized Bongino’s qualifications for the job.
WATCH:
Scott Jennings brutally reminds CNN Abby Philip that Dan Bongino’s appointment to Deputy FBI Director is based on President Trump’s authority and not on Democrats who refuse to get over their embarrassing election loss. pic.twitter.com/EEHkvpghAH
— DeVory Darkins (@devorydarkins) February 25, 2025
“You just denigrated Bongino’s law enforcement credentials. He was a cop and a Secret Service agent, you denigrated his academic credentials, he has a Masters Degree —” Jennings began.
“Just because he’s a police officer doesn’t mean he’s qualified to run a 38,000-person, $11 billion budget agency, just like Pete Hegseth being a National Guardsman isn’t either … thank you for your service —” Setmayer interrupted, but Jennings was not finished.
“But you know what does? You know what does? Because he enjoys the confidence and the pleasure of the president,” Jennings said, alluding to the fact that Trump, as president, does not have to make staffing decisions based “qualifications” approved by Setmayer or anyone else.
Setmayer then argued that the real problem was Trump’s “judgment,” which she claimed was terrible.
“I’m sorry that you are not yet over the outcome of the election,” Jennings shot back. “In our system, we elect people — we elect people and they appoint people to office. That’s the way it works.”
“No. Look at what’s happening to our country! And I’ll never be over it, Scott. This is dismantling our democracy in front of our eyes,” she complained, giving no evidence as to how Dan Bongino serving in the FBI would “dismantle” democracy. “And you guys are okay with this.”
Former New York City Council Republican leader Joe Borelli chimed in then, referencing a few of former President Joe Biden’s appointees and suggesting they might also have been unqualified.
Borelli mentioned former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s meteoric rise to lead the Department of Transportation along with “the guy who was stealing luggage,” adding, “I think that anyone who’s at any point defending the Biden administration …”
“But this is the FBI,” Phillip interjected, and then attempted to pin Jennings down on the issue.
He argued simply that based on law enforcement experience, academic qualifications, and the fact that ultimately he and others serve “at the pleasure of the president,” Bongino was certainly qualified to take on the role.
“}]]
