Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed during a Senate Finance Committee hearing that he threatened Bill Pulte, President Donald Trump’s newly appointed acting Director of National Intelligence, with physical violence. According to multiple reports, Senator Thom Tillis asked Bessent whether it was true that he had told Pulte he would punch him in the face.
Key Takeaways
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed threatening Bill Pulte, Trump's acting Director of National Intelligence, during a Senate hearing. Senator Thom Tillis asked about reports that Bessent had told Pulte he would punch him in the face, to which Bessent responded he said he would kick his ass. The altercation occurred at a private dinner in 2025 and highlighted bipartisan criticism of Pulte's appointment due to his lack of national security experience.
- Bessent admitted threatening Bill Pulte during a Senate hearing
- Senator Thom Tillis confirmed the threat but clarified it was not a punch, but rather kicking 'his ass'
- The altercation occurred at a private dinner in 2025 and highlighted bipartisan criticism of Pulte's appointment
- Bessent compared their altercation to 'locker room fights' suggesting such conflicts are common among team members
- Senator John Cornyn expressed doubts about Pulte's qualifications, stating he saw 'no evidence of any qualifications for that job.'
⚖
▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 8 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature Of The Threat | 1 Difference | Majority reports Bessent said 'kick his ass'; outliers initially reported 'punch in the face'. | ▼ |
| Bessent's Threat To Pulte | Broad Agreement | Bessent admitted threatening Pulte with physical violence. | |
| Location Of Altercation | Broad Agreement | Altercation occurred at a private dinner. | |
| Bipartisan Criticism Of Pulte's Appointment | Broad Agreement | Bipartisan criticism due to Pulte's lack of national security experience. |
Nature Of The Threat
▼Majority reports Bessent said 'kick his ass'; outliers initially reported 'punch in the face'.
Bessent's Threat To Pulte
Broad AgreementBessent admitted threatening Pulte with physical violence.
Location Of Altercation
Broad AgreementAltercation occurred at a private dinner.
Bipartisan Criticism Of Pulte's Appointment
Broad AgreementBipartisan criticism due to Pulte's lack of national security experience.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
Bessent responded, 'No sir. I actually said I was going to kick his ass,' per PBS. This exchange occurred amid bipartisan criticism of Trump's decision to appoint Pulte, who lacks a background in national security. Tillis shared Bessent’s sentiment and stated he would not support Pulte’s nomination.
The clash between Bessent and Pulte reportedly took place during a private dinner in the summer of 2025, as detailed by Politico. Bessent compared their altercation to 'locker room fights,' suggesting that such conflicts are common among team members. Senator John Cornyn expressed doubts about Pulte's qualifications, stating he saw 'no evidence of any qualifications for that job.' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats have criticized the appointment, with Schumer calling Pulte a 'Trump political puppet' per Daily Mail.
The hearing also addressed Bessent’s refusal to comment on whether Trump would retain immunity from IRS audits. When asked by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto about ongoing litigation related to this issue, Bessent declined to provide details, citing legal constraints. This came a day after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated that the portion of the settlement dealing with IRS audit immunity for Trump remained in effect per AP News. The administration's decision to scrap plans for a $1.776 billion compensation fund, which could have benefited Trump’s allies, has drawn bipartisan outrage.
During a separate hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee, Bessent engaged in heated exchanges with Democrats over the DOJ settlement requiring the IRS to end any existing tax audits of President Trump. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., condemned rising prices during the Iran conflict, while Bessent repeatedly pushed back on assertions about his policies by pointing to higher commodity prices during the Biden administration.
Bessent also criticized Illinois' economic policies, stating 'no wonder so many people are leaving Illinois.' This comment incensed Schneider, who claimed people were not leaving the state. The exchange highlighted broader debates over executive power and politically charged investigations.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 8 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.