Topline
Bill Pulte, the acting director of national intelligence, will not permanently remain in the position, President Donald Trump told reporters Thursday, following a wave of bipartisan blowback over the pick, who critics said could weaponize the position.
William Pulte, nominee to be director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Key Facts
“It’s not a permanent, he’s not going to be permanent, because you know, I don’t think he’d want to be permanent,” Trump said, noting interviews were being held for the director of national intelligence job.
Trump said Pulte is “somebody just to take it over for a little while.
Trump added the acting director had the qualifications needed for the job despite having no background in intelligence, saying Pulte “is a guy that will be able to figure it out very quickly.”
Pulte received backlash from Republicans and Democrats after Trump named him acting director, with some critics pointing to his lack of intelligence experience and his role as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which he has used to file criminal referrals accusing Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., of mortgage fraud.
Chief Critic
“I thought I had gotten to the stage where I could no longer be shocked by Donald Trump’s choices,” Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., told MS NOW, “but this may be the most outrageous of all.”
Crucial Quote
“Anyone performing this role of such immense public trust must have the extensive national security experience required by statute, and no nominee who falls short of this requirement will earn my vote,” Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., according to Axios.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.