Trump names inexperienced ally as intelligence director / Photo: Brendan SMIALOWSKI - AFP
Trump names inexperienced ally as intelligence director
US President Donald Trump appointed a loyalist with no national security experience as head of US intelligence on Tuesday -- and said he would also retain his existing jobs overseeing federal housing and mortgage policies.
Federal Housing Finance Agency chief Bill Pulte, who also leads the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, was named as the acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard.
Gabbard, herself a controversial pick for the job, resigned in late May, ending a tenure that saw her appear to be at odds with Trump over his war on Iran.
"William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets," said Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform, adding that Pulte would continue to serve in his housing-related roles.
Pulte, 38, is an outspoken ally of the president who has been known for publicly attacking Trump's political enemies, with some US media describing him as the president's "attack dog."
Pulte has accused Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James of falsifying documents on mortgage applications.
The Wall Street Journal reported that, according to an internal complaint at Fannie Mae, Pulte had improperly accessed the mortgage records of James and other Democratic officials.
A federal grand jury indicted James in October, but the case was dismissed without prejudice a month later by a federal judge over other issues.
Pulte has also championed a mortgage fraud case against US Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, based upon which Trump attempted to fire the monetary policy maker. That case is pending before the Supreme Court.
The heir to a home-building fortune, Pulte has polarized many, even within Trump's circle, with his aggressive and public political actions.
In addition to attacking Trump's enemies, he has also fired internal ethics watchdogs who were investigating his own allies.
Pulte characterized those firings as a way to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies at Fannie Mae.
On housing finance, he has championed the introduction of a 50-year mortgage in the United States, a proposal that has enraged many in the MAGA movement.
Pulte has fallen out with his family over the future of their PulteGroup company. Bill Pulte left the company's board in 2020.
US media report that he has fallen out with those in Trump's inner circle, too.
In 2025, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to punch Pulte at a dinner at a private club, according to the Wall Street Journal and Politico.
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