LANSING — Two-time statewide loser John James has enthusiastically endorsed Donald Trump’s selection of unqualified Bill Pulte to be the Director of National Intelligence, even as Pulte possesses no qualifications for the job and Republican senators have been slamming the pick, according to new reporting from Deadline Detroit.
Pulte has no national security or intelligence experience, which federal statute requires for the role, according to The Detroit News. Pulte has been working as the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, where he has targeted Trump’s political opponents.
Multiple Republican Senators have come out against Trump picking Pulte to lead American intelligence, with GOP Sen. John Cornyn saying, “I see no evidence of any qualifications for that job,” and GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy saying, “The best I can tell you is he’s not qualified.”
But that didn’t stop James, who is locked in a chaotic and contentious MAGA primary for governor where each of the candidates are desperately groveling for Trump’s endorsement. While in Congress, James has voted to cut Medicaid and supported Trump’s harmful tariffs.
“John James has voted in support of Donald Trump’s harmful agenda while in Congress and is now wholeheartedly endorsing Trump’s reckless pick for one of the nation’s top national security jobs,” said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman. “It’s clear that John James cares more about pleasing Trump than keeping families safe and standing up for Michigan.”
Read more below.
Deadline Detroit: Despite GOP Politicians Saying He’s Not Qualified, John James Embraces Bill Pulte For National Intelligence Job
- A chorus of politicians on Capitol Hill, including prominent Republican senators, criticized President Trump’s appointment on Tuesday of Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, saying he possesses no qualifications for the job.
- “I see no evidence of any qualifications for that job,” GOP Sen. John Cornyn said, according to The Hill. Ditto for Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who said: “The best I can tell you is he’s not qualified, but I don’t know anything about him other than that.”
- But that apparently didn’t stop Republican Michigan Congressman John James, a gubernatorial candidate, from wholeheartedly endorsing Pulte for the job in a post on X on Tuesday that included a photo of the two standing together.
- “Congratulations to Michigan’s own @pulte on being named Acting Director of National Intelligence,” James wrote. “I wish him success as he takes on this critical mission serving the American people and defending our national security.”
- During the interim appointment, Pulte will remain director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
- Pulte is replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who submitted her resignation last month, saying she wanted to care for her husband who has bone cancer.
- Pulte, 38, is the grandson of William J. Pulte, who turned Pulte Homes in Metro Detroit into a powerhouse in the national homebuilding industry.
- Some may see James’ post as a way of showing his continued loyalty to President Trump, who has yet to endorse a Republican candidate in the Michigan governor’s race.
- Trump reportedly was not happy that James jumped into the governor’s race, fearing his congressional seat could flip to the Democrats.
###
