Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said to the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday that he once threatened to "kick the ass" of Bill Pulte [1].
The admission highlights growing internal friction within the Trump administration, specifically regarding the appointment of Pulte to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Bessent provided the testimony in Washington, D.C., on June 3, 2026 [1]. During the proceedings, he addressed previous tensions between himself and the Federal Housing Finance Agency Director. "I told Bill Pulte last year I was going to kick his ass," Bessent said [2].
The exchange appears to stem from frustration over Pulte's role as the acting head of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence [4]. This friction reflects a broader pattern of instability among high-ranking officials in the current administration, a dynamic that has drawn the attention of congressional oversight committees.
While some reports initially suggested the threat was directed toward former President Donald Trump, Bessent said during his testimony that the remark was aimed at Pulte [2]. He specified that he was going to kick him, not punch him [3].
Bessent's comments come at a time when the Treasury and the FHFA must coordinate on various economic policies. The public nature of the disagreement suggests that personal animosity between the two officials has persisted despite their shared roles in the executive branch [1].
Senate members questioned the impact of such interpersonal conflicts on the efficiency of government operations. Bessent did not elaborate on whether the relationship with Pulte has since improved, but the testimony confirmed a volatile history between the two men [3].
“"I told Bill Pulte last year I was going to kick his ass."”
This incident underscores a volatile internal culture within the current administration, where personal grievances between cabinet-level officials are being aired in formal congressional settings. The tension over the acting DNI appointment suggests a struggle for influence and a lack of cohesive alignment between the Treasury and intelligence oversight, potentially complicating the execution of national security and economic policy.
