Contra
Some in Trump’s circle cheered Pulte’s appointment. Steve Bannon called it “a middle finger to Republican members of the Senate,” who Trump is feuding with over a number of issues, including his now-paused anti-weaponization fund and White House ballroom project. Right-wing activist Jack Posobiec said Trump “just appointed a fighter,” calling Pulte “a man who knows how to get things done and has been loyal to the President since Day One.”
Read more Trump Says He’ll Speak At Rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner After Shooting Incident
Key Background
Gabbard announced her resignation May 22, citing her husband’s cancer diagnosis, following a tumultuous tenure in which she publicly clashed with Trump over the Iran war. Trump initially appointed Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas to fill her role. Lukas worked in the first Trump administration and under former President Barack Obama. As head of the FHFA, Pulte spearheaded the controversial campaign to accuse Trump’s enemies of mortgage fraud. He referred New York Attorney General Letitia James, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif, Fulton Country District Attorney Fani Willis and Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to the Justice Department, but only James has been charged so far and her case was dismissed. Pulte is the grandson of the late William J. Pulte, billionaire founder of the PulteGroup residential building company. Pulte served on the company’s board until 2020 and has since had a falling out with his family’s charitable foundation, which released a statement in 2024 distancing itself from Pulte. He has been referred to as “Little Trump” for his abrasive leadership style, including aggressive efforts to identify and oust leakers and go after Trump’s foes. In the James case, Pulte was accused of improperly obtaining her mortgage records through his role at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, according to an internal complaint reported on by The Wall Street Journal, which subsequently reported about a dozen internal investigators at the company were fired in the wake of the complaints against Pulte.
Tangent
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to punch Pulte “in the f- – -ing face” at a private dinner with Trump officials and allies in Washington last year, Politico reported, citing multiple anonymous sources. Bessent was reportedly incensed that Pulte had been mad-mouthing him to Trump.
Read more Top Republicans Say Trump’s $1.8 Billion Fund Is ‘Off The Table’—As Confusion Swirls
Further Reading
Trump Taps Pulte—Who Led Probes Into Trump Enemies—For National Intelligence Chief (Forbes)
Read more Stanford Study Finds AI Beats Law Professors 75% Of The Time