Mike Pence questions legality of Trump intel pick

Former Vice President Mike Pence weighed in on the latest Cabinet pick by President Donald Trump, suggesting there will be “issues” around the Director of National Intelligence nomination.

Pence made a stop at CNN while hawking his book, “What Conservatives Believe,” where he was asked by host Kate Bolduan for his take on his former boss’s nomination of Bill Pulte to replace outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Pence claimed he didn’t know Pulte, who served as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, before going on to speculate that there may be legal issues in his assuming the new role.

Mike Pence. Not a fan of Bill Pulte as acting DNI. “If memory serves, we actually said in the law that it requires a DNI with intelligence and security experience. And I expect there will be issues” around Pulte as Trump’s pick. pic.twitter.com/Sh0xEGCds0

— Kate Bolduan (@KateBolduan) June 3, 2026

“You have this announcement from the president — his new pick for acting director, Bill Pulte. What do you think of him?” Bolduan asked the former VP.

“Well, I don’t know him,” Pence responded.

“Do you think the Director of National Intelligence should have intelligence experience and national security experience?” the CNN anchor asked, setting up the angle.

“Well, I was in Washington, D.C. on September 11. I was there when the Congress stood up the Director of National Intelligence and that department, and it was all designed to make sure that our intelligence agencies were all talking to one another, because 9/11 happened in part because the people at the FBI knew things the people at the CIA didn’t know, and we missed the terrorist plot,” Pence, who served in Congress and as governor of Indiana, said.

“And when we stood that up, if memory serves, we actually said in the law that it requires a Director of National Intelligence with intelligence and security experience, and I expect there will be issues around Bill Pulte’s nomination,” he continued.

“He can serve as the acting DNI for some time, but I would hope that when a permanent DNI is appointed by the administration, it’ll be a man or woman who brings an extensive background in national security,” Pence added.

“I am appointing the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, William J. Pulte, to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence.” – President Donald J. Trump

Congratulations to Director Pulte! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/pEwKMAELDv

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 3, 2026

“Look, we’re living in an ever-more dangerous world. We are at war with the leading state sponsor of terrorism that we know for a fact has assets in this country. Now more than ever, we need experienced men and women at the DNI’s office, at CIA and FBI, and I think the Senate will call for that,” Pence told Bolduan.

Social media users weighed in on Pence’s remarks.

No one cares what this traitor thinks.

— Vera Allen (@AliCat203) June 3, 2026

The bitterness and propaganda continue

— Thankful4USA (@Thankful4Usa) June 3, 2026

They hate that Pulte isn’t from the Infestation known as the IC.

— Coco’s Brushfire 🔥 (@cocosbrushfire) June 3, 2026

Who cares? It is the president’s decision to make, not Mike Pence or anyone else. The Senate can have their say if POTUS nominates Pulte for the position full time

— M (@Realmarko88) June 4, 2026

Sounds like Pulte is the right pick

— regina marler (@marler_regina) June 3, 2026

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