Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte has found himself at the center of a political firestorm after presenting President Trump with a controversial mortgage plan that quickly drew fierce criticism from the president’s own supporters.
Pulte pitched the concept of a 50-year mortgage plan to Trump on Saturday during a meeting at which he brought a poster board outlining the proposal, according to a Politico report citing two individuals with knowledge of the discussion.
The president appeared receptive to the idea at the moment. Shortly after the meeting concluded, Trump shared the mortgage proposal on his Truth Social platform, according to a source who was present with the president at the time.
The response from Trump’s base was swift and overwhelmingly negative. The post triggered an immediate reaction on social media platform X, where conservative allies and supporters of the president voiced strong opposition to the concept.
Critics took aim not only at the 50-year mortgage idea itself but also directly at Pulte for bringing the proposal to the president’s attention. “50 Year Mortgage < 50 Million Deportations,” media personality Benny Johnson penned on X.
In a subsequent post, Johnson added: “Your own government funded mortgages for illegals and forced you to pay for it. Illegals got houses while you can barely pay rent. This sick practice skyrocketed the price of homes in America.”
X user Christopher F. Rufo, in a post targeted at Pulte, said, “The idea behind the 15- and 30-year mortgage is that you eventually own the home you live in, whereas the 50-year mortgage abandons this pretense altogether and fully embraces the idea of housing as a speculative asset. Not good, unless you’re a bank.”
The controversy centers on concerns about the long-term implications of such extended mortgage terms. Traditional mortgages typically span 15 or 30 years, making the proposed 50-year timeline a significant departure from established lending practices.
Supporters argue that although monthly payments may be lower, Americans will be forced to pay increasingly more in interest over the years.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) revolted against Trump’s blueprint, claiming it will only leave Americans in debt. “I don’t like 50 year mortgages as the solution to the housing affordability crisis, ” she said.
“It will ultimately reward the banks, mortgage lenders, and home builders while people pay far more in interest over time and die before they ever pay off their home. In debt forever, in debt for life!” Greene added.
The Daily Mail reported on the backlash to Trump’s plan earlier this week, noting that an insider to the president called Pulte’s proposal “moronic.” “After publicly humiliating the president with his moronic 50 year mortgage plan it’s safe to assume that his days are numbered,” the insider said, referring to Pulte.
Trump addressed the opposition to his plan in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham.
Ingraham asked the president how he felt about his supporters not being too fond of his housing director’s idea.
In response, the president shrugged off such criticism and defended the plan. “It’s not even a big deal.. all it means is less per month over a longer period of time!” Trump said.
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