You probably know the name from a headline about a lawsuit involving a fictional cow. Or maybe you remember him as the guy holding the gavel during those heated House Intelligence Committee hearings. But honestly, if you're asking who is Devin Nunes, you have to look past the cable news clips to see a guy who has spent two decades pivoting between the dirt of a California dairy farm, the halls of Congress, and now, the weird, high-stakes world of Silicon Valley-style startups.
As of early 2026, Devin Nunes is one of the most influential figures in the intersection of conservative politics and independent media. He isn't just a "former congressman" anymore. He's currently pulling double duty. He remains the CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG)—the parent company of Truth Social—while also serving as the Chair of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB) under the second Trump administration.
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It’s a bizarre mix of roles. One day he’s dealing with server uptimes and stock mergers; the next, he’s providing independent assessments on the nation's most sensitive intelligence agencies.
From the San Joaquin Valley to the West Wing
Nunes didn't start in a boardroom. He’s a dairy farmer by trade. Specifically, he’s a third-generation Portuguese-American from Tulare, California. His family came from the Azores, and that agricultural background isn't just a talking point—it’s basically his entire identity. He was buying cattle at 14. By 23, he was one of the youngest community college trustees in California history.
He’s a product of the San Joaquin Valley, a place where water rights and environmental regulations are literally life-and-death issues for local businesses. This shaped his entire political worldview. When he got to Congress in 2003, representing California's 21st (and later 22nd) district, he wasn't a firebrand right away. He spent years focusing on things like the "Roadmap for America's Energy Future" and fighting what he called "man-made droughts" caused by water restrictions.
Then 2016 happened.
Everything changed for Nunes when Donald Trump entered the scene. He became a key member of the transition team and eventually the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. This is where he became a household name—and a polarizing one. He authored the "Nunes Memo" in 2018, which alleged that the FBI had abused its power to surveil the Trump campaign. Depending on who you ask, he was either a whistleblower exposing "Deep State" corruption or a partisan shield for the President.
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The Big Pivot: Leaving Congress for Truth Social
In late 2021, Nunes did something that caught everyone off guard. He quit. He resigned from a very safe seat in Congress—a job he had held for nearly 20 years—to become the CEO of a company that, at the time, barely existed.
Why?
Basically, he bet his entire career on "anti-cancel culture" technology. As CEO of TMTG, he oversaw the launch of Truth Social. It hasn't been a smooth ride. The company faced massive SEC scrutiny, technical glitches, and huge financial losses in its early years. But by late 2025, the narrative shifted. TMTG announced a massive merger with a fusion power company called TAE Technologies. Now, Nunes is navigating TMTG's evolution into more than just a social media app—he’s trying to build a diversified tech conglomerate.
What his daily life looks like now:
- Managing Truth Social: Fighting what he calls "Big Tech censorship" and trying to make the platform profitable.
- Intelligence Oversight: Chairing the PIAB, where he advises the President on the effectiveness of the CIA and NSA.
- Corporate Strategy: Overseeing the merger with TAE Technologies to push into the nuclear fusion and energy sectors.
Why People are Still Talking About Him
If you go on X (formerly Twitter) or Truth Social, you'll see people have very strong feelings about the guy. Supporters see him as a fighter who was right about the Russia investigation early on. They point to his 2021 Presidential Medal of Freedom as proof of his service.
Critics, however, can't get past the lawsuits. You might remember him suing Twitter over a parody account called "Devin Nunes' Cow." While most of those defamation suits were dismissed or dropped, they cemented his reputation as someone who is willing to use the legal system to aggressively go after his detractors.
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There's also the "dual role" controversy. In 2026, ethics experts have raised eyebrows about him being a private-sector CEO and a high-level government advisor simultaneously. Nunes, for his part, has mostly brushed this off, claiming his experience in both worlds makes him better at both jobs.
The Man Behind the Headlines
Away from the cameras, Nunes is a father of three and still maintains deep ties to the dairy industry. He even wrote a book back in 2010 called Restoring the Republic, which reads like a manifesto for the "America First" movement before that term was even cool.
He’s not a polished orator. He talks like a guy who grew up in a barn because, well, he did. That’s part of the appeal for his base. He doesn't sound like a Harvard-educated lawyer (he went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo). He sounds like a frustrated businessman who thinks the government is standing in the way of progress.
What to Watch for in 2026
If you're following the Nunes story, keep an eye on two things. First, the TMTG-TAE merger. If he can actually turn a social media company into a fusion energy player, it would be one of the weirdest and most successful pivots in business history. Second, watch his influence on the U.S. Intelligence Community. As PIAB Chair, he’s in a position to fundamentally reshape how the U.S. handles its secrets.
Practical Insight: If you're looking to understand the current trajectory of the conservative movement, watching Devin Nunes is essential. He represents the shift from traditional legislating to "parallel economy" building—creating tech and media structures that exist outside of the mainstream establishment.
Actionable Steps for Readers:
- Check the Filings: If you're interested in his business side, look up the TMTG (ticker: DJT) public disclosures for 2026 to see how the TAE merger is actually progressing.
- Read the Original Memo: To understand his political standing, go back and read the 2018 House Intelligence Committee memo. It’s the foundation of his entire relationship with the current administration.
- Verify the Roles: Always confirm his current status on the official White House or TMTG investor relations pages, as his dual roles often lead to shifting titles.