Trump Reverses Course Amid GOP Backlash Over Controversial Intel Chief Appointment

In a surprising change of direction, President Donald Trump has reconsidered his choice for the country’s chief intelligence officer.

Through his platform, Truth Social, Trump announced his intention to find a permanent leader with a strong national security background for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Until then, he has appointed a loyal supporter known for his unconventional approach to temporarily oversee the agency.

“I have tasked him with the immediate and necessary reduction of the office’s size, returning personnel to their original agencies,” Trump stated in his post, adding that the search for a permanent ODNI head is ongoing.

During a meeting with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump indicated that Pulte’s tenure would be brief.

“We’re considering five candidates, all of whom are excellent but distinct, and we aim to appoint someone soon. There is a strong desire to streamline the office,” Trump elaborated.

Trump announced that 38-year-old Pulte, currently leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency, will step in as acting Director of National Intelligence on June 19th. This follows the unexpected resignation of Tulsi Gabbard.

This change in tone from Trump comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson met with him in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon, pressing him to consider a different nominee in a bid to ease the Democratic opposition threatening FISA’s renewal.

In his Truth Social post, Trump writes that FISA is important to the administration, the military and keeping Americans safe, ‘especially during the World Cup and America250 Celebrations.’

‘If nothing is done, this important Law will expire this week. I am asking Congress to send me a short-term extension of FISA to provide time for the selection and confirmation of a permanent Head of the Agency,’ Trump wrote. 

Earlier reporting claimed their meeting ‘didn’t go very well,’ with Trump pushing back on Johnson’s suggestion that he needed to placate Democrats, according to Politico.

As for Johnson, he told reporters the briefing with the President went well but wouldn’t go into specifics, before criticizing Democrats for holding FISA powers ‘hostage.’

Intelligence officials consider FISA one of their most valuable tools for tracking foreign threats, and warn that a lapse would leave agencies in the dark on terrorist networks, spies and cyber adversaries. 

Pulte’s elevation to the post has drawn anger from lawmakers in both parties.

Sources tell the Daily Mail that several top advisors vehemently doubted the decision-making, panicking over Pulte’s absolute lack of intelligence or national security credentials.

However, a defiant Trump has fought back aggressively against the internal dissent, only softening his stance now. 

Gabbard announced in May that she would be resigning from Trump’s cabinet due to her husband’s rare bone cancer. 

Trump elevated Pulte, a longtime aide and current director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as her replacement. 

The President, however, does not plan to formally nominate Pulte, who will instead serve on an acting basis. 

Pulte’s elevation to the post has drawn anger from lawmakers in both parties over his lack of national security experience

Installing him temporarily lets the White House sidestep congressional scrutiny, since an acting appointment does not require Senate confirmation. 

‘You’re less shackled,’ Trump said last week when discussing Pulte’s status. ‘It sort of gives you more power, you know, for a somewhat limited period of time.’

Trump added that he plans for Pulte to purge the intelligence community of holdovers from the Obama and Biden administrations.

The President told Pulte that the 18 agencies that he now oversees are ‘unnecessary and/or too big.’ 

Trump told the Wall Street Journal: ‘I’d like to see it smaller. I think there are a lot of people in there that shouldn’t be there.’