Trump reveals his pick to replace embattled Tulsi Gabbard as intel chief

Donald Trump has announced who will replace Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard following her planned resignation. 

Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and Chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will now serve as acting Director of National Intelligence, the President announced on Tuesday morning. 

Pulte, 38, will replace outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who recently announced she would step back from her job as her husband deals with a rare form of bone cancer.

‘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,’ Trump posted on social media. 

‘William has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago.’

Trump shared that Pulte will remain Director of FHFA and the Chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while serving as acting DNI.  

Pulte has feuded with some of Trump’s Cabinet members during his tenure.

Pulte will replace outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who recently announced she would step back from her job as her husband deals with a rare form of bone cancer 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly told Pulte in the fall that he would ‘punch you in your f***ing face’ after the Treasury chief caught wind of the housing financier badmouthing him to Trump. 

‘Why the f*** are you talking to the president about me? F*** you,’ Bessent reportedly told Pulte at a dinner with many Cabinet officials in September. ‘I’m gonna punch you in your f***ing face.’ 

Gabbard, meanwhile, shared on social media Tuesday morning that she was heading to the hospital with her husband, Abraham Williams, for a procedure to address his diagnosis.  

‘We are getting ready to head to the hospital for my husband’s surgery and just wanted to say thank you so much to all of who have shared messages, prayers and well wishes for Abraham,’ she wrote.

Pulte has been one of Trump’s most loyal senior officials during the President’s second term. 

Last year, Pulte accused Trump’s foes of mortgage fraud. 

Beginning in April, Pulte began accusing Trump foes of mortgage fraud, including 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 – the case is now before the Supreme Court. 

Pulte is the grandson of William J. Pulte, the founder of the Pulte Group, a construction company worth over $22 billion. 

Trump, Gabbard and her husband, William, in the Oval Office last February 

William is undergoing surgery for a rare form of bone cancer on Tuesday, Gabbard shared

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. 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.