A private Trump dinner turned chaotic last week when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to punch Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte in the face, Politico reported.
The clash erupted Wednesday night at the Executive Branch, a private club co-founded by Donald Trump Jr., during what was supposed to be a launch celebration.
According to witnesses, Bessent lost his temper after hearing that Pulte had been speaking against him to Donald Trump. He confronted Pulte head-on, shouting, “Why the fuck are you talking to the president about me? Fuck you. I’m gonna punch you in your fucking face.”
The room froze. Co-owner Omeed Malik tried to calm things down. But Bessent wanted Pulte gone. “It’s either me or him,” Bessent said. “You tell me who’s getting the f**k out of here.”
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He then pushed harder. “Or we could go outside,” he warned.
“To do what? To talk?” Pulte asked.
“No,” Bessent snapped. “I’m going to f**king beat your ass.”
Other guests watched in shock. The dinner included Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz.
Malik finally stepped in and split the two men. They were seated at opposite ends of the table. One guest called the fight “bonkers.” Another described it as “unhinged.”
The feud between Bessent and Pulte has been brewing for months. In May, Trump announced that both men, along with Lutnick, would work together on a plan to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. But they have disagreed on how to handle the mortgage giants and the broader economy.
Pulte has urged Trump to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and lower interest rates. Bessent has argued for more caution, warning that such moves could unsettle financial markets.
Bessent has also clashed with Elon Musk behind the scenes. In April, the two got into a shouting match over who should lead the IRS. Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon later told the Daily Mail that Musk even shoved Bessent during the fight, after challenging his promises to save the administration “a trillion dollars.”
Bessent downplayed the Musk clash, calling it a difference in style. “The Silicon Valley mode of operation is move quickly and break things. I always say here at Treasury we move deliberately and fix things,” he said.
Then he compared himself to a fighter. “I think Elon probably fancies himself more of a Viking. I think I’m more of a ninja.”
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
