Treasury Secretary Bessent confirms he threatened to 'kick his ass' in clash with Bill Pulte during Senate hearing.
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on June 25, 2025, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed a confrontation with FHFA Director Bill Pulte from last year, clarifying he said he would 'kick his ass' rather than punch him. Bessent characterized the dispute as a 'locker room' fight and said he had a good exchange with Pulte recently. Pulte was recently named acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard.
17
Divergence score
9 outlets covered it, splitting into 5 framing camps across 3 bias groups.
5 camps
3 bias groups
The spectrum · how 9 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
Washington Examiner
CNN
The Hill
NY Post
New York Times
HuffPost
PBS NewsHour
Daily Wire
Bloomberg
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
The split, in one line
Most outlets quote Bessent's 'kick his ass' clarification and the 'locker room' framing, but the NY Post omitted the Pulte clash entirely to focus on Bessent's clash with Wyden over Epstein.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
17LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Scott Bessent goes scorched earth against Sen. Ron Wyden over Epstein claims”NYP NY Post RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Bessent says he told Pulte 'I was going to kick his a--'” · The Hill
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 9 outlets put it
LEFT3
CNNCNN Scott Bessent said he told Bill Pulte last year he 'was going to kick his ass" 2d ago TNew York Times Bessent Calls Clash With Bill Pulte a 'Locker Room' Fight 2d ago HPHuffPost Scott Bessent Squirms When Confronted With Trump's Own Words On Americans' Finances 2d ago Tracked claims from across the political spectrum
Fact ledger
Corroborated
Disputed