In a significant shift at the helm of national intelligence, Donald Trump has revealed the successor for Tulsi Gabbard, who is set to resign from her role as Director of National Intelligence. The President announced on Tuesday morning that Bill Pulte will assume the role of acting Director of National Intelligence.
Bill Pulte, currently leading the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and holding the position of Chairman at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has been tapped for this critical role. At the age of 38, Pulte steps in following Gabbard’s decision to leave her post to support her husband, who is battling a rare form of bone cancer.
Trump made the announcement via social media, stating, “I am appointing the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, William J. Pulte, to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence.”
Highlighting Pulte’s qualifications, Trump noted, “William has deep experience managing America’s most sensitive matters, ensuring the safety and soundness of the Markets, and overseeing over $10 trillion at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—a significant rise from the previous year.”
In an unusual move, Pulte will continue his leadership roles at the FHFA and as Chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while undertaking his new responsibilities as acting DNI.
Trump shared that Pulte will remain Director of FHFA and the Chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while serving as acting DNI.
The FHFA Director has drawn controversy during his tenure after reportedly selling Trump on the idea of proposing a new 50-year mortgage and discussing a meme of the President appearing like Jesus Christ before the executive posted it – eliciting heavy backlash from his Christian supporters.
Pulte has feuded with one of Trump’s most trusted Cabinet members.
Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte will now serve as acting Director of National Intelligence, Trump announced on Tuesday
Pulte will replace outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who recently announced she would step back from her job as her husband deals with a rare form of bone cancer
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly told Pulte in the fall that he would ‘punch you in your f***ing face’ after the Treasury chief caught wind of the housing financier badmouthing him to Trump.
‘Why the f*** are you talking to the president about me? F*** you,’ Bessent reportedly told Pulte at a dinner with many Cabinet officials in September. ‘I’m gonna punch you in your f***ing face.’
Gabbard, meanwhile, shared on social media Tuesday morning that she was heading to the hospital with her husband, Abraham Williams, for a procedure to address his diagnosis.
‘We are getting ready to head to the hospital for my husband’s surgery and just wanted to say thank you so much to all of who have shared messages, prayers and well wishes for Abraham,’ she wrote.
Pulte has been one of Trump’s most loyal senior officials during the President’s second term.
Referred to by some as ‘Little Trump,’ Pulte, a Mar-a-Lago member, has been spotted frequenting the Trump’s golf resorts and bringing printed-out poster boards to meetings to drive home his points with the poster-adoring President.
Last year, Pulte accused Trump’s foes of mortgage fraud.
Beginning in April, Pulte began accusing Trump foes of mortgage fraud, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought charges against Trump; California Senator Adam Schiff, who led an impeachment inquiry into Trump; and Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook, who fought back against the President when he tried to fire her – the case is now before the Supreme Court.
Trump, Gabbard and her husband, William, in the Oval Office last February
William is undergoing surgery for a rare form of bone cancer on Tuesday, Gabbard shared
Pulte is the grandson of William J. Pulte, the founder of the Pulte Group, a construction company worth over $22 billion.
The FHFA Director first skyrocketed into the spotlight in 2019 when he began philanthropic efforts on Twitter, now X.
At the time, he would routinely give out cash to random followers. Sums he gave out ranged from a few thousand to much more. He has claimed to have given over $1 million away in these efforts.
The self-proclaimed ‘inventor of Twitter philanthropy’ quickly saw his follower count rise to over 3 million by 2022.
