Trump says he won’t nominate Pulte as permanent US spy chief after backlash
Critics fear the acting director of national intelligence will use his access to top-secret information to target the president’s foes
US President Donald Trump on Thursday indicated that he would not nominate mortgage regulator Bill Pulte to be the nation’s intelligence chief once his temporary appointment expires early next year.
His comments follow a backlash against Pulte’s appointment as acting director of national intelligence from Democrats and some key senators of his Republican Party over the Trump loyalist’s lack of national security experience.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump indicated he would not nominate Pulte to serve permanently as the overseer of the 18-agency US intelligence community.
That would require Senate confirmation, something that Republican leaders have suggested would be difficult for Pulte to win. The law that created the position requires that nominees possess extensive national security experience.
“I don’t think he would want to be permanent, but he is a very smart guy, and he may find out some things about the rigged elections,” Trump said, apparently referring to his discredited claim about the 2020 vote that he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
“It’s short-term, but he may be very effective for a short period of time,” Trump said.