Trump says Pulte won’t be permanent national intelligence director
William Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) nominee for US President Donald Trump, during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.
Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images
President Donald Trump said Thursday that Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte will not be appointed to that position permanently.
Trump’s comment came two days after he tapped Pulte, who leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency as acting DNI.
The move sparked criticism on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers decried his lack of intelligence experience and his history as an attack dog for Trump.
“It’s not a permanent, he’s not going to be permanent, because you know, I don’t think he’d want to be permanent,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday when asked why he thinks Pulte is the best person for the job.
“He’s a very smart guy, and you may find out some things about the rigged elections, etc., etc.”
Trump also said, “We’re interviewing people right now” for the DNI post.
Pulte is “somebody just to take it over for a little while,” the president said.
Trump also said Pulte had qualifications for the job, despite his lack of a background in intelligence.
“I think he does, actually, because he’s smart,” Trump said. “I wasn’t greatly experienced in national security, and I think I’ve done a really great job with it.”
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