Trump picks loyalist Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who recently announced that she would be stepping down from her role at the end of June.
Trump announced Pulte’s appointment in a Truth Social post. He said: “I am appointing Federal Housing Finance Agency Director and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Chairman William J. Pulte to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence. William has deep experience in managing America’s most sensitive issues, the safety and soundness of markets and more than $10 trillion in Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac when it was 1 month ago when it was 1 month ago a substantial increase2 to remain Federal Housing Finance Agency Director and Chairman Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.”
NBC News reported that DNI is a government role that requires Senate confirmation. However, Trump’s appointment of Pulte to the acting post has allowed the US president to sidestep the process for the time being. It remains unclear whether Pulte will be Trump’s final choice for the job.
Tulsi Gabbard resigns for personal reasons
The development comes weeks after Tulsi Gabbard, a former DNI, tendered her resignation to the US president, citing personal reasons for relinquishing the role. He will leave the administration on June 30. According to AFP, she was a controversial choice for the job and her tenure was marked by apparent disagreements with Trump over his handling of the Iran war.
In her resignation, Gabbard told Trump she was “deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in me and the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence over the past year and a half,” adding, “Sadly, I must tender my resignation effective June 30, 2026. My husband, Abraham, was recently diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer.”
Who is Bill Pulte?
Pulte, 38, is an outspoken Trump ally who is best known for publicly attacking Trump’s political enemies, with some US media describing him as the president’s “attack dog”. Pulte accused Trump’s political enemies, including Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James, of falsifying mortgage application documents.
He also championed the mortgage fraud case against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, which led Trump to try to fire the monetary policy maker.
This is a developing story. Further details were awaited.
