Senate Leader John Thune Clashes With Trump Over DNI Pick and Settlement Fund

Conflict Over Intelligence Appointment

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has voiced strong opposition to President Donald Trump's Tuesday appointment of Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence. Pulte, described as a "MAGA attack dog," previously served as the federal housing finance chief, where he reportedly targeted the president's enemies.

Thune criticized the move, stating, "We don't need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there". The Senate leader further noted that if the White House intends for Pulte to hold the position permanently, "he's got a lengthy road ahead of him". This pushback comes amid reports that Pulte lacks apparent intelligence experience.

The appointment has also drawn criticism from across the aisle. Senate Democrats are privately urging GOP leadership to pressure President Trump to withdraw Pulte's appointment.

Standoff Over 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund

Thune is also engaged in a dispute with the White House regarding a proposed $1.776 billion settlement fund, often referred to as an "anti-weaponization fund". Critics of the fund, including members of Trump's own party, have characterized the proposal as a "slush fund".

Thune indicated on Monday that he believes the White House dropping the settlement fund is the "best way to handle" the situation. He expressed hope that the administration would move to abandon the funding. Reports indicate that Thune has consistently argued against the idea of the fund.

The tension over this fund has extended to the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) reportedly informed President Trump on Monday that the Republican-led House would vote against the fund if necessary. Additionally, a federal judge has already halted the creation of the fund, while another is seeking an investigation into the president's personal attorneys and Justice Department lawyers.

Legislative Deadlock and Senate Frustrations

The friction between Thune and Trump has coincided with broader legislative stalemates. The White House and the Senate remain in a standoff after Republicans left Washington 10 days ago without passing legislation to fund immigration enforcement agencies.

Thune has stated that changes to the DOJ fund will be necessary to unlock a stuck GOP immigration bill. This legislative tension is part of a larger trend where the Senate conference is becoming less responsive to the president's demands, leaving Thune to navigate what has been described as a "rough patch" with the administration.

Planned Actions and Next Steps

Attention now turns to upcoming testimony regarding the settlement fund. Senate Majority Leader Thune pointed toward expected testimony from Blanche in a House committee on Tuesday afternoon, which may signal that the "anti-weaponization fund" is effectively off the table.

Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump met at the White House on Tuesday morning to discuss the stalled GOP immigration enforcement bill.