Pulte Nomination Challenged
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Confirms Heated Pulte Confrontation Amid DNI Pick's Senate Scrutiny
Key Points
The fight’s details, as described by prior reporting, included profanity directed at Pulte and an intervention by club co-owner/financier Omeed Malik—who sources said tried to de-escalate after Bessent demanded Pulte be removed (“It’s either me or him,” and “You tell me who’s getting the fuck out of here”).
Sen. Thom Tillis said his opposition to Pulte was tied not only to the confrontation but also to Pulte’s enforcement approach against former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, saying Tillis “lost [his] support” when Pulte “went after [former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome] Powell.”
Earlier reporting that sparked the controversy said Bessent told Pulte he would “f***ing beat your a**” after Bessent heard Pulte was disparaging him to the president, and that the only discrepancy among witnesses concerned who initiated the exchange.
The hearing and related coverage also pointed to a broader pattern of internal Trump-administration clashes, including reporting that Bessent had a fiery verbal confrontation with Elon Musk tied to DOGE and other flare-ups over immigration enforcement targets.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a Senate committee on June 3 that he threatened to "kick his ass" during a confrontation with Bill Pulte — but denied earlier reports that he threatened to punch him in the face. PBS reported that Bessent made the admission during testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, one day after President Trump named Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence.
The exchange happened at a private Washington, D.C. club in September 2025. Bessent said he heard Pulte was "badmouthing" him to Trump. Financier Omeed Malik reportedly stepped in to de-escalate after Bessent demanded Pulte leave, saying "It's either me or him." Bessent called the clash a "locker room squabble" and said he has since called Pulte to congratulate him on the appointment, according to IJR.
Tillis and McConnell Break With Trump Over Pulte Pick
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said the brawl was not his only concern. He told Bessent he "lost [his] support" for Pulte the moment Pulte "went after" former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Tillis said he "shares the emotion" behind Bessent's threat but still opposes the nomination, Daily Caller reported.
Sen. Mitch McConnell also raised red flags. He cited a federal law that requires the DNI to have "extensive national security experience." Pulte has no traditional intelligence background. As FHFA director, he managed $10 trillion in assets tied to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — but that is a financial role, not a spy agency. Pulte can serve as acting DNI for up to 210 days before needing Senate confirmation.
Pulte's FHFA Record Raises Weaponization Fears
During his time at the FHFA, Pulte launched criminal referrals targeting Trump's political opponents. Targets included New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Critics say he used the agency's access to mortgage records as a political weapon, according to AOL.
Rep. Jim Himes warned that Pulte could repeat that pattern at the intelligence level — this time with access to classified data instead of mortgage files. The administration used Pulte's FHFA referrals to push for Cook's removal, a move now under review by the Supreme Court. Trump defended Pulte by pointing to his $10 trillion oversight role as proof he can handle high-stakes systems.
Bessent's Broader Pattern of Internal Clashes
The Pulte fight is not Bessent's only White House brawl. In April 2025, Bessent and Elon Musk got into a shouting match in a West Wing hallway over IRS leadership. Witnesses called it "WWE in the West Wing." Reports also described physical shoving between the two men. Bessent has framed all these episodes as normal friction inside a high-pressure team, The Gateway Pundit reported.
Bessent told the committee that teams "go out and win on the field" even after clashes in the locker room. But senators were not fully satisfied. The hearing made clear that internal volatility is now part of the official record — and could follow Pulte into the nation's top intelligence job.
Pulte Appointment Upends FISA Renewal Talks
The political fallout from Pulte's appointment is already hitting legislation. Talks over renewing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, have stalled. Lawmakers who distrust Pulte's judgment are reluctant to hand him expanded surveillance tools. The 52-48 margin that confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as DNI in 2025 shows how thin the votes are for a loyalist with a contested record.
Trump has pushed back hard against the criticism. He argues Pulte proved himself by running one of the largest financial systems in the world. Whether that argument wins over skeptics like McConnell and Tillis — both of whom have real leverage — will shape not just Pulte's future but the administration's grip on the intelligence community.
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