Trump names Bill Pulte acting intelligence director

United States President Donald Trump appointed a loyalist with no national security experience as head of US intelligence 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.

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‎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.

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‎“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 on Tuesday, adding that Pulte would continue to serve in his housing-related roles.

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‎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.”

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‎Pulte has accused Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James of falsifying documents on mortgage applications.

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‎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.

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‎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.

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‎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.

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‎The heir to a home-building fortune, Pulte has polarised many, even within Trump’s circle, with his aggressive and public political actions.

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‎In addition to attacking Trump’s enemies, he has also fired internal ethics watchdogs who were investigating his own allies.

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‎Pulte characterised those firings as a way to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies at Fannie Mae.

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‎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.

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‎Pulte has fallen out with his family over the future of their PulteGroup company. Bill Pulte left the company’s board in 2020.

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‎US media reports that he has fallen out with those in Trump’s inner circle, too.

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‎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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‎AFP

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