‘Totally unqualified’ Trump selects Pulte for intel role, sparks bipartisan backlash

WASHINGTON, DC: Hours after President Donald Trump announced William Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard.

The announcement of Pulte's appointment quickly triggered bipartisan backlash, as critics highlighted his lack of military and intelligence credentials.

Trump on Tuesday, June 2, announced that Pulte would succeed Tulsi Gabbard as the leader of the country’s intelligence and national security apparatus, saying he “has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America.”

Pulte's appointment as ‘unqualified’ intelligence head criticized

Criticism of the appointment came from both sides of the political aisle, as Trump raised eyebrows by picking the controversial head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Pulte, to head the country’s intelligence and security department.

Conservative radio host Erick Erickson reacted to the appointment announcement, writing, “Bill Pulte is one of the worst members of the President’s team and has convinced Trump to do more stupid stuff than anyone else in the past year. He’ll be driven to work in a very short bus each day.”

Sen Mark Warner (D-VA), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, fumed over the decision.

“This appointment speaks volumes about what this president expects from the nation’s top intelligence official,” Warner began, adding that Trump wants people who misuse authority for “political retribution.”

“Rather than selecting a respected national security professional capable of delivering independent judgments, the president has chosen an official who has demonstrated not just willingness but eagerness to use the authorities of government to pursue political retribution.”

Warner further added that Pulte, in his former role, used power to "pursue the president’s grievances and lend credibility to dubious prosecutions of President Trump’s perceived political opponents.”  

Thune: ‘We don’t need weaponized director’

Sharing the news of Trump moving forward with Pulte as the successor to Tulsi Gabbard, veteran GOP political operative Matt Mackowiak added, “This is indefensible.”

Senator from Nevada, Cortez Masto, argued that Pulte helped Trump charge and jail his political enemies and that is why he is rewarded with the position.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told reporters “we don’t need a weaponized” director of national intelligence when asked about President Trump’s appointment of Bill Pulte.

“If they nominate him to take the position permanently, he’ll have to go through a confirmation process and hearings and everything else, so we’ll see,” Thune told reporters.

The Editor-In-Chief of The Dispatch called Pulte “totally unqualified” for the position.

As director of national intelligence, Pulte will oversee the CIA, NSA, and various other federal agencies involved in intelligence collection – including the FBI.

He will also serve as a principal advisor to Trump and the National Security Council on matters of foreign policy and national security.