Amid controversies, US President Donald Trump has appointed a trusted aide with no security experience to lead the National Intelligence Department.
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday appointed a loyalist with no national security experience as US intelligence chief – and said he would also keep his existing jobs overseeing federal housing and mortgage policies.
Federal Housing Finance Agency head Bill Pulte, who also leads mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, was nominated to replace Tulsi Gabbard as acting director of national intelligence.
Gabbard, herself a controversial candidate for the position, resigned in late May, ending her tenure in which it appeared she was at odds with Trump over the war on Iran.
“William has deep experience managing America’s most sensitive matters, the safety and soundness of the markets,” Trump said in a post on his Truth social platform. Pulte will continue to work in his housing-related roles, he said.
Pulte, 38, is an outspoken ally of the president who is known for publicly attacking Trump’s political enemies, with some US media describing him as the president’s “attack dog”.
Pulte has accused Trump’s political enemies, including Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James, of falsifying documents on mortgage applications.
He has also supported the mortgage fraud case against US Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, on the basis of which Trump attempted to fire the monetary policy maker.
