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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly threatened Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, that he was "gonna punch you in your f**king face" during a heated exchange, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to POLITICO.
Bessent, 63, reportedly made the threat to Pulte, 37, over accusations that Pulte trash-talked Bessent to President Donald Trump, the sources confirmed.
“Why the f**k are you talking to the president about me? F**k you," Bessent allegedly said to Pulte.
“I’m gonna punch you in your f—ing face,” he added.
The incident reportedly took place at a private dinner attended by several of Trump's closest advisers at the Georgetown club last Wednesday (September 3). The confrontation was described by one Trump insider as "bonkers," while another called it "unhinged" and said it underscored surprising tension between the top officials.
Trump announced that Bessent, Pulte, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick would work together to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are overseen by Pulte, as he's taken the lead in recent weeks on a plan that would put up to 15% of both housing finance organs on the public market. The two have, however, reportedly clashed behind the scenes as Bessent believes Pulte inserted himself into matters that Bessent believes to be his jurisdiction, Trump insiders confirmed to POLITICO.