politics

Scott Bessent testifies he told Bill Pulte he was "going to kick his a**," not punch him in the face

Updated on: June 3, 2026 / 4:12 PM EDT / CBS News

Scott Bessent testifies he told Bill Pulte he was "going to kick his a**," not punch him in the face

TL;DR

  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed a heated argument with Trump loyalist Bill Pulte, the nominee for acting Director of National Intelligence.
  • Bessent clarified that he told Pulte he was "going to kick his a**," disputing reports that he threatened to punch Pulte.
  • The testimony occurred during a Senate Finance Committee hearing where Republican Sen. Thom Tillis questioned Bessent about the incident.
  • Pulte's nomination faces Republican opposition due to his lack of national security experience and his previous actions as head of the FHFA, which included sending criminal referrals for mortgage fraud investigations into Trump critics.
  • Pulte can serve as acting director for up to 210 days while continuing to lead the FHFA.