Trump is – A Politico newsletter portrays President Donald Trump as “pissed” at nearly everyone around him, with anger fueled by standoffs with Congress over the Section 702 fight and by Bill Pulte’s nomination as Director of National Intelligence.
President Donald Trump is “pissed” with just about everyone in his political circle, a Politico report says—captured in a White House newsletter titled “Knives are out inside the White House.”
The Thursday newsletter, written by White House bureau chief Dasha Burns, describes a frustrated president and staff members who feel the heat. Burns ties the tension inside the administration to standoffs with Congress, as well as an unexpected primary loss in Iowa.
Bill Pulte’s nomination has been a flashpoint. Burns reports that Bill Pulte’s bid to become Director of National Intelligence has fueled an “angry. insular. grievance-driven” atmosphere inside the administration—an environment “increasingly shaped by a group of loyalists with direct access to the president.”.
Lawmakers are pushing back hard. They have objected to what they describe as Pulte’s lack of military and intelligence experience, and they are threatening to pull their support of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act if Trump doesn’t rescind his backing of Pulte.
Section 702 is set to expire Friday. If it lapses, the U.S. could be limited in what intelligence it can collect abroad—an outcome that’s already landing on an especially sensitive calendar, with the World Cup underway and the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations on the horizon.
Congress pushes harder than rhetoric. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said there is only one option for Trump to get an extension—he needs to pull the Pulte nomination. Jeffries called Pulte a “disgraceful individual” and a “partisan political hack” who is unqualified for the role.
Even with that ultimatum, Trump is not backing down. House Speaker Mike Johnson tried to get him to change his mind, but a senior Republican staffer told Burns the move was “a middle finger to Congress.”
That standoff is taking a personal toll. A MAGA operative told Burns the president has grown “increasingly frustrated with everyone, from his own team to the Senate.” The operative added: “He’s pissed, and people are not recognizing the level of pissed that he is.”
Pulte isn’t the only pressure point. Burns says Trump is also facing pushback on his $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and on a White House ballroom project. The same MAGA operative framed Trump’s mindset in blunt terms: “He does not like being put in a box. When you put him in a box, then Trump’s going to blow the box up.”.
Earlier this month, the president took another hit—his chosen candidate, Randy Feenstra, lost in the Iowa gubernatorial primary. A White House source said Trump is “really angry about this Iowa endorsement — like really, really angry.”
The Iowa race itself still carries the fingerprints of Trump’s involvement. Trump only agreed to back Randy Feenstra after members of Congress “pressed him” to get involved. Trump had publicly backed Feenstra. calling him “MAGA all the way.” After the primary. Feenstra conceded late Tuesday night. telling supporters. “We’ve got a new chapter. and I’m so looking forward to that new chapter in life.”.
While Iowa often leans red, Democrats believe the governor’s race could be more competitive this cycle, citing growing frustration with Trump’s second term. The Republican nominee will face Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, who ran unopposed on the Democratic side.
Someone close to Trump’s political operation told the Washington Post that the late endorsement was a “Hail Mary” from the start. That same source said Trump only agreed to back Feenstra after members of Congress “pressed him” to get involved in the race.
“It appears he was more substantially behind than the polls were showing,” the source said. “Everyone close to this was just kind of wrong.”
Donald Trump Politico Dasha Burns White House Bill Pulte Director of National Intelligence Section 702 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Hakeem Jeffries Mike Johnson Randy Feenstra Iowa gubernatorial primary Rob Sand anti-weaponization fund World Cup 250th anniversary
“Knife-fight” sounds like clickbait tbh.
If Section 702 expires because of some dude’s nomination then Congress is basically playing politics with national security. And Trump being “pissed” isn’t exactly calming anything down.
Wait, so Pulte is mad at Congress and that’s why the World Cup is getting limited intelligence? Like how does that even connect lol. I feel like they’re using that 702 thing as an excuse to fight over some random Iowa loss.
This whole thing reads like they’re all in a jealous contest. One side says Pulte has no experience (ok fair), other side threatens to pull support for Section 702, and meanwhile Trump’s “pissed” and loyalists are “inside”?? Next thing you know nobody gets anything done before Friday and then everyone acts surprised.