A proposal from the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency sparked a firestorm in Washington this week after it was pitched directly to former President Trump at his private golf club in Palm Beach.
The suggestion? Offering 50-year mortgages to American homebuyers—a plan that experts warn could destabilize the housing market rather than help it.
The Presentation That Shocked Everyone
Bill Pulte arrived at Trump International Golf Club with a presentation that one observer described as “school-project-style,” complete with a board titled Great American Presidents.
Front and center: a photo of Franklin D. Roosevelt labeled “30-year mortgage” next to a picture of Donald Trump with “50-year mortgage” scrawled underneath.
Within minutes, Trump shared a photo of the display on Truth Social.
That single post unleashed a wave of criticism from both his aides and housing-market analysts, many of whom worried that the idea could make housing even more unaffordable.
Experts Sound the Alarm
“FDR did it, you can do it,” Pulte reportedly told Trump—but according to those present, he left out the significant downsides.
Experts called the idea a “bandaid solution” for housing affordability.
“Buyers would build equity more slowly, and early payments are mostly interest,” said Gennadiy Goldberg, head of U.S. rates strategy at TD Securities.
Over decades, homeowners could end up paying far more in interest than with a traditional mortgage.
One insider described the backlash as unusually severe, particularly among Trump’s own supporters who value his economic track record.
“Anything that goes before POTUS needs to be vetted,” they said.
“With Pulte, that often doesn’t happen. He just goes straight to Trump.”
Trump Defends the Proposal
Despite the uproar, Trump brushed off the criticism in an interview with Fox News host Lara Ingraham.
“All it means is you pay less per month,” he said.
“Pay it over a longer period. It’s not a big factor. Might help a little bit.”
Conservative Voices Push Back Hard
The idea also faced sharp attacks from conservative commentators. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene slammed it as a scheme that benefits banks and builders while trapping homeowners in decades of debt.
Laura Loomer and Mike Cernovich also criticized the plan on social media, calling it shortsighted and unhelpful.
Pulte, for his part, insisted the 50-year mortgage is only one part of the administration’s broader effort to make homeownership more accessible.
Still, one attendee at the golf club noted bluntly, “If it wasn’t clear before, it is now—Pulte doesn’t understand how the mortgage markets operate.”
White House Response
In an official statement, the White House emphasized Trump’s commitment to making homeownership more attainable.
They cited efforts to cut red tape, increase housing supply, and reduce costs, framing the controversial mortgage proposal as part of that larger mission.