A question from Tillis reveals more division between the NC senator and Trump
Good morning! It’s Danielle Battaglia, here, with your latest edition of Under the Dome focused on the Trump administration.
I may be months too late in saying this, but I think Sen. Thom Tillis might be getting under President Donald Trump’s skin.
Why do I say that, this week?
Let’s start with the fact that before I finished writing this on Friday, he called Tillis a loser to the press pool on a completely different topic.
But my original reason was that I find that when the White House press team sends out an email rounding up a list of quotes defending Trump’s actions, it’s typically trying to counter or distract from blowback on those actions.
Enter Tillis.
Tillis was sitting in a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday and asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent if he told “(Bill) Pulte, you were going to punch him in the face?”
Bessent smiled at Tillis and said, “No sir, I actually said I was going to kick his ass.”
Tillis responded, “Good. OK. Good. I share the emotion.”
Pulte served as Trump’s Federal Housing Finance Agency director until June 2, when Trump appointed him acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard.
Choosing Pulte for DNI has been controversial among many senators due to his lack of experience and his willingness to go after Trump’s political opponents.
Bessent’s response to Tillis was aired repeatedly on the national news that afternoon.
Bessent told Tillis that the argument between him and Pulte happened last year, and that, ”many teams have fights in the locker room and then go out and win for the team on the field.”
“I made it clear I’m not going to support him for DNI,” Tillis told Bessent, during the hearing. “He lost me when he went after (former Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome) Powell.”
Less than 24 hours later, the White House was out with a statement.
“President Trump’s appointment of William J. Pulte to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence is drawing praise from lawmakers in the nation’s capital,” the news release said.
“A battle-tested reformer with deep experience safeguarding highly sensitive information and overhauling massive government institutions, Pulte brings decisive leadership, proven integrity, and a fierce America First commitment to the Intelligence Community.”
They lined up quotes from five senators and 11 representatives to prove that support.
Unfortunately for Pulte, to be given the position permanently, only the senators’ opinions matter. And even Senate Leader John Thune acknowledged that if Trump nominates Pulte for the role permanently, it will be “a lengthy road.”
Several Republicans on the Senate Committee on Intelligence question Trump’s choice of Pulte. And with nine Republicans and eight Democrats on the committee, Trump’s party can’t afford to lose a vote.
Sen. Ted Budd, a Republican from Davie County, serves on the committee and offered me these thoughts on Pulte Friday: “There are many talented people that are supportive of the President’s agenda and have national security and intelligence experience that I might have considered first. But, I want to congratulate Mr. Pulte on his acting appointment while the President considers who to formally nominate to this important position.”
That’s not exactly a strong endorsement.
By Thursday, Trump announced he wouldn’t put up Pulte as his official nominee. But senators didn’t seem confident in that, because they spent the day and well into the overnight hours in a vote-a-rama that included trying to add an amendment to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding bill that would block Pulte’s nomination. It failed 49-49.
Tillis wasn’t among the Republicans who voted against Pulte, but he tends to vote against what he considers messaging bills.
However, Tillis did try to push an amendment to prevent Trump from using a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund to reimburse people convicted of crimes from the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Every iteration of an amendment on that issue failed.
But the ICE funding bill did pass and is now moving to the House for consideration.
Stories you won’t want to miss
- Intention to fix? Advocates plead for tweaks to NC Medicaid law to avoid cuts
- Thom Tillis, Michael Whatley take different stances on ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
- NC Senate candidate Michael Whatley campaigns on tax cut for service workers
- Trump administration is disbanding climate research during hurricane season
- Canes fans confused by AI player photo posted by NC Senate candidate Michael Whatley
- Last resting place of World War II sub, two NC crewmen, found off Japan
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading and supporting local journalism.
Be kind to each other. If you have any feedback or tips for this edition of the newsletter, feel free to reach out to me directly at dbattaglia@mcclatchydc.com.
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