Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged Wednesday that he threatened to “kick [Bill Pulte’s] ass” during a heated confrontation last year, while firmly denying reports that he threatened to punch the now-acting Director of National Intelligence “in the face.”
The unusual exchange emerged during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, where Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) pressed Bessent about reports surrounding a confrontation between the two Trump administration officials during the summer of 2025.
According to Bessent, one key detail in the widely circulated account was inaccurate.
While he denied threatening to punch Pulte, Bessent confirmed that he did, in fact, threaten to “kick his ass.”
Tillis appeared unfazed by the admission.
“Good,” the North Carolina Republican replied. “I share the emotion.”
The comments offered a rare public glimpse into internal tensions among some of President Donald Trump’s senior officials and allies.
The dispute reportedly occurred during an inaugural event at the executive branch last summer after Bessent learned that Pulte had been criticizing him directly to Trump. According to accounts of the incident, the confrontation became heated enough that Bessent threatened physical violence against Pulte.
Although rumors surrounding the encounter have circulated in Washington for months, Wednesday marked the first time Bessent publicly addressed the incident under oath.
The controversy has taken on renewed significance following Trump’s decision earlier this month to elevate Pulte to one of the most sensitive positions in the federal government.
Trump announced on June 2 that Pulte would serve as acting Director of National Intelligence following the departure of Tulsi Gabbard, who is stepping down at the end of June to support her husband during treatment for a rare form of bone cancer.
Pulte will continue serving as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while taking on the intelligence role.
His appointment has generated controversy among some Republicans, including Tillis, who has openly questioned whether Pulte can secure confirmation if Trump seeks to make the appointment permanent.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Tillis suggested the White House may have underestimated the political obstacles facing Pulte.
“Whoever told the President to go ahead and commit to this publicly before vetting it should lose their jobs,” Tillis said. “Because they should know that the math just works against Pulte being confirmed.”
The comments underscore growing divisions among Republicans over Pulte’s rise within the administration.
While Trump has repeatedly praised Pulte and entrusted him with critical responsibilities, critics have raised concerns about his management style and his relationships with other senior officials.
The public revelation that one of Trump’s top Cabinet members threatened to physically confront him is unlikely to ease those concerns.
At the same time, Tillis’ response highlighted how personal frustrations with Pulte appear to extend beyond Bessent alone.
Bessent continues to oversee Trump’s economic agenda as Treasury secretary, while Pulte is preparing to assume responsibility for coordinating America’s intelligence agencies during a period of heightened international tensions.
Whether the two officials have since repaired their relationship remains unclear. But Wednesday’s hearing confirmed that at least one long-rumored Washington confrontation was not entirely fictional—even if, according to Bessent, the details had been slightly misreported.
READ NEXT: Trump Names Housing Finance Leader Bill Pulte As Acting DNI
Seijah Drake was born in Boston, MA, where she developed a penchant for writing early on and a passion for politics in college. After college she worked briefly for a conservative media in New York before relocating to the Greater D.C. Area to pursue a career in political marketing. She now resides in the free state of Florida.
