Trump Admin Tensions: Bessent Says He Told Pulte He'd ‘Kick His Ass'
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted Tuesday that he once told President Donald Trump’s pick for the next Director of National Intelligence that he would “kick his ass,” following reports of a confrontation last summer.
The reported standoff occurred during a private dinner last September, when Bessent was said to have told Bill Pulte, who is the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) director, that he would punch him in the face after hearing he had been badmouthing him, per Politico at the time.
That was not the first story of alleged tensions within the Trump administration, with reports over the past year indicating flare-ups around immigration enforcement targets, as well as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), in which Bessent was said to have gotten into a fiery verbal confrontation with Elon Musk.
Bessent said Wednesday that “many teams squabble in the locker room and then go out in the field,” when asked about his reported tension with Pulte, who Trump wants to replace Tulsi Gabbard after her recent resignation.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for further comment on Wednesday afternoon via email.
Who Is Bill Pulte?
Pulte is a businessman and real estate heir who built his career in private equity and housing finance before entering government in 2025. He currently oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government-backed mortgage giants, and has been a high-profile figure within the Trump administration.
Trump picked him as the next DNI following Gabbard’s departure, defending the choice by pointing to Pulte's experience managing large and sensitive financial systems, including trillions of dollars in mortgage assets. In announcing the decision, the president framed Pulte as someone capable of handling complex, high-stakes responsibilities.
At the same time, reporting has suggested Pulte's loyalty to Trump and his willingness to take aggressive action against the president's perceived political opponents helped drive the decision. During his tenure at FHFA, Pulte made criminal referrals alleging mortgage fraud involving several prominent Democrats, elevating his profile as a combative ally within the administration.
Why Pulte’s Pick is Controversial
Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns:
- No intelligence experience in a job traditionally held by national security professionals
- Fears of politicization of intelligence agencies, given his past targeting of political figures
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 11:41 AM.