Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent minimized his past conflict with Bill Pulte, recently appointed by President Donald Trump as acting intelligence chief, after senators raised concerns during a Wednesday meeting. The confrontation in question surfaced during a Treasury budget hearing when North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis questioned reports from 2025 alleging Bessent had threatened Pulte at a dinner event.
Senator Tillis asked, “Did you actually tell Pulte you were going to punch them in the face?” Bessent responded humorously, “No sir, I actually said I was going to kick his ass.”
Reports stated that Bessent had accused Pulte of undermining him with the president and had threatened physical confrontation, yet Bessent downplayed these claims. He informed senators he contacted Pulte to offer congratulations on his new role.
“Many teams squabble in the locker room and go out in the field,” Bessent remarked, expressing comfort with Pulte’s appointment.
Bessent previously addressed similar concerns in September, comparing Cabinet members’ disputes to historical dueling, referencing events well-known from Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton’s time.
President Trump chose Pulte to step in as acting director after former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard resigned to focus on family matters following her husband’s cancer diagnosis. Pulte remains director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency while chairing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Bessent gained further attention in April 2025 due to a heated disagreement with SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk concerning leadership at the IRS.
Criticism has emerged from Democratic lawmakers questioning Pulte’s suitability for the intelligence role, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer describing Trump’s appointment of Pulte as a poorly considered decision fueled by personal loyalty.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed this sentiment, listing the lack of experience Pulte holds in relevant fields such as national security, military, and law enforcement.
“What qualifies Bill Pulte to hold one of the most important national security positions for the United States of America? One thing, apparently, that Bill Pulte is willing to say anything or do anything that Donald Trump demands, no matter how reckless, vengeful, or unlawful Donald Trump’s demand may be,” Jeffries criticized.
Fox News Digital reached out to relevant parties for additional comments on the ongoing situation.
Reporting by Ashley J. DiMella on political affairs for Fox News Digital.