Overview

• Politico reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told FHFA Director Bill Pulte he would punch him in the face during a profane exchange at the Executive Branch club on Sept. 3.
• Club co-owner Omeed Malik separated the two, no blows were struck, and they were later seated at opposite ends of a roughly 30-person dinner tied to the club’s inaugural event and Chamath Palihapitiya’s birthday.
• Accounts cited by Politico include one eyewitness and several people familiar with the event, who differed on who initiated the exchange; CNN and other outlets echoed the reporting.
• Treasury, the FHFA, and the White House did not offer immediate comment when contacted by multiple news organizations.
• The dispute tracks with ongoing frictions over roles and policy on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and follows earlier reported confrontations involving Bessent, including a high-profile clash with Elon Musk this year.