Bessent testifies he told Pulte he was "going to kick his a**," not punch him
Scott Bessent testified about a past confrontation with Bill Pulte during a Senate Finance Committee hearing. Bessent clarified that he threatened to kick Pulte rather than punch him, amidst ongoing concerns about Pulte's qualifications for the role of acting Director of National Intelligence. The testimony highlighted the contentious atmosphere surrounding Pulte's appointment and the skepticism from some Republican senators regarding his experience.
- ▪Scott Bessent confirmed he had a heated argument with Bill Pulte last year.
- ▪During the hearing, Bessent stated he told Pulte he was going to kick his a**.
- ▪Pulte's appointment has faced criticism due to his lack of experience in national security.
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Politics Scott Bessent testifies he told Bill Pulte he was "going to kick his a**," not punch him in the face By Kathryn Watson Kathryn Watson Politics Reporter Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Read Full Bio Kathryn Watson Updated on: June 3, 2026 / 4:12 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google President Trump's pick for acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte has become a point of contention on Capitol Hill, including on Wednesday, when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed to senators that he had a heated argument with the Trump loyalist last year — but disputed some of the details.The president's decision to tap Pulte, who lacks a résumé in the national security field and oversaw the launch of mortgage fraud…
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