Oz sidesteps questions on Pulte’s lack of intel background
Key takeaways
- I know him socially,” Oz said when asked about Republican senators’ criticism of the move to appoint Pulte. “I have not worked with him in his current job, but I do trust the president’s judgement.
- John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Sen.
- Oz, who is a cardiothoracic surgeon, was at one point asked if he would recommend a patient to go see someone who is not a heart doctor in reference to questions surrounding Pulte’s qualifications.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
Mehmet Oz sidestepped questions on Tuesday about President Trump’s appointment of Bill Pulte, the homebuilder and director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), to serve as acting head of the nation’s intelligence services, saying he trusted the president s judgement.
Oz, who serves as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, received multiple questions about Trump’s move to appoint Pulte as he helmed the latest White House press briefing in Karoline Leavitt s absence.
“I think Bill is a great guy. I know him socially,” Oz said when asked about Republican senators’ criticism of the move to appoint Pulte. “I have not worked with him in his current job, but I do trust the president’s judgement. He is a very sharp and quick study of people, their emotional abilities, and their ability to persevere in the face of hardship, so I have confidence in his decision.”