Trump says 'people have wanted to downsize' intelligence community for a while' [View all]

When asked about his earlier comment that he had asked Bill Pulte, who he plans to install as acting director of national intelligence on 19 June, “to execute the immediate and needed downsizing of the office, reverting staff to their home agencies”, Donald Trump stood by his social media post.

“People have wanted to downsize for a while,” Trump said. “Many people don’t want it at all. A lot of people thought it was a duplication.”

Trump’s choice of Pulte as the country’s top intelligence official has prompted widespread concern over his complete lack of national security experience. The president defended his choice on Wednesday, telling reporters: “Smart people are smart people. I always say I’d rather have smart than experienced, but experience is good too.”

He said he hoped reporters would give Pulte an “easy run”, as “he’s very busy.”


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/jun/10/graham-platner-maine-democrats-senate-primary-donald-trump-us-politics-latest-news-updates