Trump says Pulte won’t be permanent; CNN reports he lacked security clearance

Just two days after naming Bill Pulte to lead the nation's intelligence community

President Trump is already making one thing clear. This is not a long-term job

Trump told reporters Thursday that Pulte's appointment as acting director of national

intelligence is only temporary, and that the White House is already interviewing candidates

for the permanent role. Pulte currently runs the Federal Housing Finance Agency and oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack

He has no known intelligence or national security background. And it's an acting position

It's not a problem. He's not going to be permanent because, you know, I don't think he'd want to be permanent

But he's a very smart guy. And you may find out some things about the rigged elections, et cetera, et cetera

I think he'd like to do it. I'd like to. I think he wants to do it very much

Got a lot of energy. But he'll be very good. Again, it's not a permanent position

We're looking at we're interviewing people right now. But it somebody just to take it over for a little while The pick has drawn criticism from both parties On Tuesday House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries blasted this election

The appointment of Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence

is another indication of how unserious, reckless, and dangerous Donald Trump and his administration are with respect to the national security

of the American people. On X, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote Pulte is, quote

a partisan thug with no experience in intelligence. But Trump defended the choice

saying Pulte is smart, has high integrity, and can figure the job out quickly. And as you just

heard in the soundbite, Trump also suggested Pulte could look into what he again described

as rigged elections, a comment that's already drawn some attention given former DNI Tulsi

Gabbard's high-profile appearance at an FBI seizure of election records in Fulton County, Georgia

earlier this year