A sharply worded exchange between Dan Bongino, the recently retired former deputy director of the FBI, and Buckley Carlson, brother of internet personality Tucker Carlson, unfolded publicly this week, stemming from a post shared by Buckley Carlson regarding Bongino’s criticism of Candace Owens. The online dispute quickly escalated, revealing deep-seated animosity and personal attacks.
The conflict began when Buckley Carlson shared a post from Stew Peters, identified by the Anti-Defamation League as an avowed white supremacist and anti-Semite. Peters’ post criticized Bongino’s recent comments about Owens, who has been critical of Erika Kirk. Bongino had described Owens’ actions as “evil” and a “cancer” that needed to be removed from conservative circles.
Peters’ original post, shared by Carlson, alleged that Bongino was attempting to endanger Owens, claiming she was “on the payroll” and being positioned to “activate a killer.” Carlson then added his own commentary, directly addressing Bongino in a scathing tweet. “Dan Bongino, simian monster. A douchey meat-stick with the fastest departing audience in media history, the remnants of which hang around only to witness further the disconnect between your claims and reality. You have no credibility. Nor do you determine who ascends to heaven. Retire for real this time,” Carlson wrote on February 24, 2026, according to a screenshot of the post.
Bongino swiftly responded, launching a counter-attack focused on Carlson’s background and perceived privilege. He questioned Carlson’s independence, asking when he “stopped suckling on daddy’s teat and traded it for the ‘bottle,’” and challenged his sobriety. He further questioned Carlson’s public recognition, asking how it felt to be known only by his last name and to have been “born with a silver spoon.”
The exchange continued with Carlson accusing Bongino of failing to fulfill his duties during his time at the FBI, calling him a “total Cuck Nancy” who “abdicated his authority.” He accused Bongino of “screeching” after returning to the public sphere and constantly complaining about his past work. Bongino retorted by accusing Carlson of being out of touch with reality and suggesting he would be unable to cope with the challenges Bongino himself had faced.
“Now you changed your argument after getting humiliated by actual numbers. Put the bottle down you trust-fund-baby horror story and secure a f*cking job. You would’ve shit your adult diapers if you dealt with a hundredth of the shit I’ve been through. You’d be crying to daddy asking him to rescue you again from your miserable stain of an existence,” Bongino replied.
Carlson’s final response continued the personal attacks, stating, “You didn’t do your job when you had one, you total pussy. That’s the point. You went AWOL, and then instead of slinking off in to oblivion, quietly, you return and screech at all those who are rightly shocked and outraged by your dereliction of duty. To compound the offense, you constantly whine about just how hard you worked. Vomitous BS, beneath any self-respecting MAN. Obviously.”
Buckley Carlson has previously drawn attention for his political commentary, including a post on X (formerly Twitter) comparing the United States to North Korea, arguing that both governments engage in similar levels of deception towards their citizens.
Bongino, since leaving the FBI, has been vocal on his podcast about his opposition to figures he describes as “black pillers” and “grifters,” including Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes. He has stated his intention to actively challenge what he sees as a harmful and divisive rhetoric within conservative circles.
The public nature of this dispute highlights ongoing tensions within conservative media and the increasingly personal tone of political disagreements online. The involvement of figures associated with controversial ideologies, such as Stew Peters, further underscores the complexities of the current political landscape.
As of March 2, 2026, neither Bongino nor Carlson have publicly indicated any intention to de-escalate the conflict. Further developments will likely unfold on social media platforms, and it remains to be seen whether this exchange will have any lasting impact on their respective audiences or professional endeavors.
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