Trump says Pulte won’t be permanent national intelligence director
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William Pulte, nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump, during his Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on Thursday, February 27, 2025 in Washington, DC, United States.
Take Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte will not be appointed to the post permanently, President Donald Trump said Thursday.
Trump’s comment came two days after he appointed Pulte, who heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting DNI. She replaces outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard.
The move sparked criticism on Capitol Hill; Here, lawmakers decried his lack of intelligence experience and his past as an attack dog for Trump.
“It’s not permanent, it’s not going to be permanent, because, you know, I don’t think he wants to be permanent,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday when asked why he thought Pulte was the best person for the job. he said.
“He’s a very smart guy, and you might learn some things about rigged elections, etc.”
Trump also said of the DNI post, “We are interviewing people right now.”
The president said Pulte is “someone who will take over for a short period of time.”
Trump previously said Pulte would remain a director of FHFA and serve as president of mortgage groups Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while serving as acting DNI.
The DNI oversees the U.S. intelligence community, which includes the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.
Trump also said Pulte was qualified for the job, despite his lack of an intelligence background.
“I actually think he is because he’s smart,” Trump said. “I didn’t have a lot of experience in national security, and I think I did a really great job at that.”
“I would say Bill is a guy who can figure this out very quickly,” Trump said. he said. “Again, this is short-term, but it can be very effective for a short period of time.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.S.D. He mocked Pulte’s appointment on Tuesday.
“We don’t need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there,” Thune said.
Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) told reporters on Capitol Hill.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DY) called Pulte a “partisan thug with no experience in intelligence” in an X post on Tuesday.
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