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 during a Senate hearing that he threatened to 'kick [Bill Pulte's] ass' after being asked about an alleged altercation. The exchange came amid bipartisan criticism of Trump's appointment of Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence.
- Bessent clarifies threat: 'Kick his ass'
- Bipartisan opposition to Pulte's nomination grows
- Bessent declines to comment on Trump's IRS audit immunity status
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 6 publishers report consistent facts across 2 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulte's Qualifications | 1 Difference | Majority reports Pulte lacks qualifications; outliers do not explicitly question them | ▼ |
| Bessent's Threat | Broad Agreement | Bessent said he would 'kick his ass' | |
| Bessent's Role With Irs | Broad Agreement | Bessent performing IRS commissioner duties but not acting commissioner |
Pulte's Qualifications
▼Majority reports Pulte lacks qualifications; outliers do not explicitly question them
Bessent's Threat
Broad AgreementBessent said he would 'kick his ass'
Bessent's Role With Irs
Broad AgreementBessent performing IRS commissioner duties but not acting commissioner
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.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 6 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.