Trump Decides Against Mike Rogers for FBI Director After ‘Deep State’ Protests

Donald Trump Opts Against Mike Rogers for FBI Director Amid MAGA Backlash

By: Haley Gunn

Nov. 22 2024, Published 8:00 p.m. ET

In a significant move, Donald Trump has decided against appointing Mike Rogers as the new FBI Director, responding to growing protests from his MAGA supporters. Sources indicate that the president-elect took the discontent of his base seriously after rumors surfaced that he was considering Rogers for the position. Supporters quickly rallied against the potential nomination, labeling the former Michigan representative a member of the so-called “deep state.”

On November 22, a spokesperson from Trump’s transition team confirmed that he would not replace current FBI Director Chris Wray with Rogers. Dan Scavino Jr., a close adviser to Trump, took to social media platform X to clarify, stating, “Just spoke to President Trump regarding Mike Rogers going to the FBI. It’s not happening — In his own words, ‘I have never even given it a thought.’ Not happening.”

Rogers, who once served as an FBI special agent and held the position of House Armed Services Chair, was seen as a strong candidate. However, he recently lost a tight race for the Michigan Senate seat. Although he has received past endorsements from the FBI Agents Association to lead the agency, the backlash from MAGA supporters proved too significant to overlook.

The response to Rogers stands out against a backdrop of ongoing controversies surrounding Trump’s transitional cabinet choices. Recently, Trump has faced criticism for selecting individuals regarded as inexperienced or embroiled in scandal, such as Pete Hegseth for the Department of Defense and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for Attorney General due to allegations of sexual misconduct and federal investigation.

Despite the upheaval, there are whispers that Kash Patel could emerge as a strong contender for the FBI Director position. Patel, who previously held the Director of National Intelligence role in Trump’s first term, has made statements about radically reforming the FBI, including plans to transform its headquarters into a “museum of the deep state.”

Concerns about Rogers intensified after a meeting he had with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Although he appeared to be a frontrunner, significant opposition arose from prominent MAGA figures upon learning of his connections to the intelligence community and past remarks. Notably, a 2017 post where he expressed concern over Russian interference in the 2016 election did not sit well with Trump’s supporters. His involvement in co-founding The Alliance for Securing Democracy, viewed by many MAGA supporters as a “deep state Never Trump” entity, further damaged his candidacy.

As Trump continues to navigate the challenges of his transition, it remains to be seen who will ultimately emerge as his pick for leading the FBI. The political landscape is evolving rapidly, with Trump’s base clearly influencing decisions as he strives to reshape federal agencies with loyalists.