Trump Taps Loyal Ally Pulte for Top Intelligence Role, Sparking Alarm

Washington is sounding alarms over Donald Trump's decision to appoint Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence. Pulte, a staunch loyalist with minimal government experience, has demonstrated a willingness to retaliate against the president's political rivals, raising concerns about his suitability to lead the U.S. intelligence apparatus.

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Rather than selecting a respected national security professional capable of delivering independent judgments, the president has chosen an official who has demonstrated not just willingness but eagerness to use the authorities of government to pursue political retribution.

Pulte's background is primarily in business, as his grandfather founded PulteGroup, a major homebuilder. He had no prior government experience before Trump appointed him to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), a regulator overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. At the FHFA, Pulte quickly moved to reshape the agency, dismissing board members and appointing himself as chair.

Known among some as "Little Trump," Pulte gained access to the president through Mar-a-Lago membership and significant campaign donations. He is known for proposing unconventional ideas, such as a 50-year mortgage, some of which reportedly concerned Trump's advisors. Reports suggest Pulte often presented ideas directly to Trump without thorough vetting, leading White House officials to caution staff against letting Pulte meet the president unattended.

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Americans have already seen Mr. Pulte use the powers of his office at the Federal Housing Finance Agency to pursue the president’s grievances and lend credibility to dubious prosecutions of President Trump’s perceived political opponents.

Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, criticized the appointment, stating, "Rather than selecting a respected national security professional capable of delivering independent judgments, the president has chosen an official who has demonstrated not just willingness but eagerness to use the authorities of government to pursue political retribution." Warner added that elevating Pulte suggests Trump seeks an intelligence leader willing to shape intelligence to his wishes, rather than one who will follow facts or speak truth to power, regardless of the cost to the American people.

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Elevating him to oversee the Intelligence Community makes clear that this president is not looking for an intelligence leader who will follow the facts or speak truth to power, but rather someone who will be willing to shape intelligence around the president’s wishes, regardless of the cost to the American people.