During a recent Senate hearing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed his past conflict with Bill Pulte, the newly appointed acting intelligence chief by President Donald Trump. The matter arose when North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis questioned Bessent about a 2025 report claiming Bessent had threatened Pulte at a dinner party.
Sen. Tillis inquired, “Did you actually tell Pulte you were going to punch them in the face?” Bessent responded with a quip, “No sir, I actually said I was going to kick his ass.” This exchange took place during a budget hearing for the Treasury and renewed interest in earlier reports of tension between the two men. This scrutiny comes shortly after Pulte’s appointment to a sensitive national security position.
Reports from the time indicated that Bessent had allegedly accused Pulte of sabotaging him with the president and threatened physical harm during a September dinner. Despite this past friction, Bessent has downplayed the conflict, noting that he called to congratulate Pulte on his new role. “Many teams squabble in the locker room and go out in the field,” Bessent commented when questioned about his comfort with Pulte’s appointment.
Treasury secretaries dating back to Alexander Hamilton have a history of dueling,” Bessent stated in a previous CNBC interview, referring to occasional conflicts between Cabinet members.
Bessent’s comments came amid Pulte’s transition to acting intelligence director after former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard resigned to support her husband’s cancer battle. Pulte will maintain his role as the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) director along with overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Bessent has also made headlines for a heated exchange with SpaceX and Tesla’s Elon Musk over IRS leadership. Axios reported a shouting match between the two in the West Wing during April 2025.
Democrats have expressed skepticism regarding Pulte’s qualifications. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Trump’s decision as a “hastily considered backroom deal” driven by loyalty rather than national security concerns. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries questioned Pulte’s national security, military, and law enforcement experience, suggesting Pulte is willing to fulfill Trump’s demands.
“What qualifies Bill Pulte to hold one of the most important national security positions for the United States of America?” Jeffries asked. “One thing, apparently, is that Bill Pulte is willing to say anything or do anything that Donald Trump demands, no matter how reckless, vengeful, or unlawful.”