Trump backpedals on controversial pick for intel chief after GOP rebellion: 'He's not going to be permanent'

By ELINA SHIRAZI, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER and JON MICHAEL RAASCH, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT Published: 23:04, 4 June 2026 | Updated: 23:06, 4 June 2026 President Donald Trump reversed course on his decision to appoint businessman Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, saying the role is 'not permanent.' Trump was speaking to reporters in the Oval Office Thursday when he claimed that Pulte's assignment to oversee the nation's intelligence agencies was a temporary measure following the departure of Tulsi Gabbard.  'It's not a permanent position,' Trump said. 'We're looking at, we're interviewing people right now, but it's somebody just to take it over for a little while.' When pressed by reporters on whether Pulte was the best person to lead the office, Trump continued to praise his character and suggested the new acting director might look into domestic political matters. 'He's very smart. He's a person who's got high integrity. He's done a phenomenal job,' Trump said, adding, 'He may find out some things about the rigged elections.' The Director of National Intelligence is responsible for overseeing the 18 agencies that comprise the US intelligence community and delivering the President's Daily Brief.  Critics have frequently warned that installing leaders without deep familiarity with global threats and intelligence gathering could jeopardize national security. Trump strongly rejected those concerns, arguing that unconventional backgrounds can yield successful results and compared Pulte's trajectory to his own entry into politics. Bill Pulte will serve as acting director of national intelligence, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Trump reversed course on his appointment of businessman Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence on Thursday, saying his role is 'not permanent' When pressed by reporters on whether Pulte was the best person to lead the office, Trump did continue to praise his character and suggested the new acting director might look into domestic political matters 'I think he does actually because he's smart,' Trump said when asked if Pulte possesses the necessary national security experience. 'I wasn't greatly experienced in national security, and I think I've done a really great job with it. I ended 8 wars. It could be 10 soon.' The administration has not yet provided a timeline for when a permanent, Senate-confirmed nominee will be announced to lead the agency.  In the meantime, Trump expressed absolute confidence that Pulte would master the complex portfolio quickly. 'He does actually because he's smart,' Trump reiterated. 'I wasn't greatly experienced in national security, and I think I've done a really great job with it. Bill is a guy that will be able to figure it out very quickly.' Trump's new intel chief has sparked immediate backlash with Republicans fuming at the real estate executive's chaotic style, and his colorful online history drawing renewed scrutiny. Pulte, the 38-year-old director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, was appointed acting director of national intelligence on Tuesday after Tulsi Gabbard's resignation. His tenure at FHFA has drawn scrutiny, including over a short-lived 50-year mortgage idea that sparked backlash from housing and market critics.  Pulte enjoys a close relationship with Trump, a frequent flyer on Air Force One and often spotted at the President's resorts and golf courses. His appointment to act as the top intelligence official in the US has baffled some of Trump's closest allies because he has no experience in the field.  Trump's new intel chief has sparked immediate backlash with Republicans fuming at the real estate executive's chaotic style, and his colorful online history drawing renewed scrutiny In the meantime, Trump expressed absolute confidence that Pulte would master the complex portfolio quickly 'The president has so many smart people at the White House, trusted people, that he could be listening to,' a former Trump administration official told Politico. 'And he listens to Pulte, who just continually f***s things up.'  Before his FHFA  nomination, Pulte had achieved online fame as a meme-stock influencer. Video resurfaced on Wednesday showing Pulte receiving a penis-shaped award at an investing event in Florida in 2023. Pulte has been one of Trump's most loyal senior officials during the President's second term.  Referred to by some as 'Little Trump,' Pulte, a Mar-a-Lago member, has been spotted frequenting Trump's golf resorts and bringing printed-out poster boards to meetings to drive home his points with the poster-adoring President. Senate Majority Leader John Thune reacted to Pulte's new job on Tuesday: 'We don't need a weaponized DNI; we need professionals there.' 'Again, I just heard about it. I'll try and get more information about the current state of their thinking about that position,' the Senate GOP leader added. 'If he's somebody they want in that position permanently, he's got a - as you all know - a lengthy road ahead of him.' Given how many GOP Senators are concerned with his qualifications, it could be a difficult gambit to have Pulte get Senate confirmation.  The head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, right, will replace outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard Senate Majority Leader John Thune reacted to Pulte's new job on Tuesday: 'We don't need a weaponized DNI; we need professionals there' Video resurfaced on Wednesday showing Pulte receiving a penis-shaped award at an investing event in Florida in 2023 Gabbard (center) recently announced she would step back from her job as her husband, Abraham Williams (right) deals with a rare form of bone cancer 'I don't see any evidence of qualifications for that job, but [I am] willing to listen,' outgoing Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on Tuesday. North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis reacted: 'I didn't know he had any national security experience.'  Last year, Pulte accused Trump's foes of mortgage fraud.  Beginning in April, Pulte began accusing New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought charges against Trump; California Senator Adam Schiff, who led an impeachment inquiry into Trump; and Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook, who fought back against the President when he tried to fire her, a case which is now before the Supreme Court.  All three have denied any wrongdoing. Pulte is the grandson of William J Pulte, the founder of the Pulte Group, a construction company worth more than $22 billion.  The FHFA director first skyrocketed into the spotlight in 2019 when he began philanthropic efforts on Twitter, now X. At the time, he would routinely give out cash to random followers. The sums he gave out ranged from a few thousand to much more. He has claimed to have given over $1 million away in these efforts.  The self-proclaimed 'inventor of Twitter philanthropy' quickly saw his follower count rise to over 3 million by 2022.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. 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