In a bold move to get ahead of an impending New York Times “exposé,” a former Trump appointee to the FBI is taking to social media to address growing controversy surrounding his recent training experience at the agency.
Dan Bongino, a former far-right podcaster who left behind a lucrative career to serve as deputy FBI director, is no stranger to criticism. His time in the spotlight has seen increasing scrutiny, not just from political adversaries, but from some of his former allies in the MAGA movement. However, the latest wave of criticism comes with a familiar twist: the media.
On Saturday, Bongino decided to preemptively address the situation in a social media post, directly targeting Adam Goldman, the investigative reporter from the New York Times set to release the piece. According to Bongino, the upcoming exposé will center around an incident at the FBI’s training facility, where he reportedly engaged in a physical training session that left him with what was described as an “injury.”
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Bongino didn’t mince words as he responded to what he called a misleading narrative: “FYI, Adam Goldman of the NY Times is getting ready to run another one of their ‘journalism’ exposé pieces about me spending time in our FBI training facility ground fighting with our dedicated and skilled defensive tactics instructors,” he wrote. “The hook they’re pushing is that after a few rounds of grappling, I hurt my shoulder.”
But Bongino didn’t just take aim at the piece; he also sought to clear up what he described as an inaccurate portrayal of the situation. “Because it’s Adam Goldman, you can generally assume he’s wrong—and he is, again. The instructor I was grappling with got the best of me, because he’s incredibly talented. That’s why he’s there,” Bongino explained. “What they’re calling an ‘injury’ wasn’t a shoulder issue at all, but rather some swelling in my elbow. I’m 50 years old and, frankly, I can’t recover like I used to.”
FYI,
— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) April 19, 2025
Adam Goldman of the NY Times is getting ready to run another one of their “journalism” exposé pieces about me spending time in our FBI training facility ground fighting with our dedicated and skilled defensive tactics instructors.
Their big news “hook” is that after a solid…
With his characteristic blend of defiance and bravado, Bongino concluded his post with a note that underscored his desire to demonstrate resilience: “But I felt it was important to get on the mats anyway, because that’s what men do. But Adam doesn’t know much about that. And he never will. Because he’s Adam, from the NY Times.”
In an era of highly charged political and media landscapes, Bongino’s latest remarks only add fuel to the fire of an ongoing battle between him, the media, and his critics. His attempt to get ahead of the story reflects his ongoing strategy to control his narrative, but as always with high-profile figures, the public’s reaction will likely be just as fierce as the training session itself.
