Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to punch Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte during a heated confrontation at a private dinner attended by administration officials and close advisers to President Trump, according to a report from Politico.
The exchange between two top economic officials took place at the inaugural dinner at Executive Branch, an exclusive club started by members of Trump’s social circle.
Politico reported Bessent confronted Pulte after hearing from several people that Pulte had been badmouthing him to Trump.
“Why the f‑‑‑ are you talking to the president about me? F‑‑‑ you,” Bessent said to Pulte, who looked stunned, according to the report. “I’m gonna punch you in your f‑‑‑ing face.”
When the club’s co-owner sought to intervene, Bessent reportedly said to him, “It’s either me or him. … You tell me who’s getting the f‑‑‑ out of here.”
Bessent suggested they otherwise “could go outside,” Politico reported.
Pulte reportedly asked whether Bessent meant he wanted to talk outside.
“No,” Bessent told him, according to Politico. “I’m going to f‑‑‑ing beat your a‑‑.”
The Treasury Department, the FHFA and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Politico reported on the heated exchange, citing one eyewitness and four other people familiar with what happened. The news outlet reported the sources disagreed only on whether Bessent or Pulte initiated the conversation.
Pulte’s public profile has elevated in recent weeks; he publicly accused Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud, which Trump then cited as cause to fire her.
This is not the first confrontation with a colleague reportedly involving Bessent. First-term presidential adviser Steve Bannon said Bessent and Elon Musk had a verbal confrontation that turned into a scuffle earlier this year.
“Look, everybody’s very passionate about doing the best job for President Trump and the American people,” Bessent told the New York Post’s Miranda Devine earlier this year.
