.png)
1 hour ago
8
This past week, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent sparred with Democrats as he testified before multiple committees on Capitol Hill.
Here are the seemingly mild-mannered secretary’s most vicious verbal battles of the week during his testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.
Who Was President During WWI?
“Do you agree with President [Donald] Trump that you also do not care about Americans’ financial situation?” Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., asked Bessent, pressing him on the economic consequences of the president’s decision to strike Iran.
“Who was the president during World War One?” Bessent replied.
“I don’t know,” Chu admitted.
Bessent went on to argue that Trump, similar to President Woodrow Wilson, was willing to accept certain consequences for voluntarily entering a conflict.
“I will promise you that President Woodrow Wilson, who was president during World War One—that the Germans did not attack us, that he got into that. It was a war of principle. And I guarantee you President Woodrow Wilson thought the same thing, congresswoman,” Bessent said.
Suozzi’s ‘Former Constituents‘
Bessent also sparred with Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York, a Democrat who represents an eastern Long Island district.
“Prices are up, gas prices are up, grocery prices are up, energy prices are up, health care prices are up, interest rates are high—all specifically related to the policies of this administration,” Suozzi said.
“Good to see you, Congressman. I want to invite you to South Carolina to see all your former constituents,” Bessent told Suozzi, poking fun at the number of New Yorkers moving to the Palmetto State.
Wyden
Bessent was particularly vicious with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who accused Bessent of covering up the financial records of the now-deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
“The machinery of government works to the benefit of Donald Trump before all else,” Wyden said. “That’s the corrupt framework that produces insurrection slush funds, protects pedophiles, and dismisses the concerns of people who are worried about being able to make rent.”
Bessent fired back ruthlessly.
“Sen. Wyden has mendaciously slandered the Treasury building in an attempt to cover up his son having an investment meeting with Jeffrey Epstein to ask for funding,” Bessent said.
Documents released by the Department of Justice revealed Wyden’s son Adam, an investor, had engaged in business discussions with Epstein.
“Nobody is interested in the ramblings of a capo in the most corrupt regime in American history,” Wyden replied.
“We would like to hear what Adam Wyden and Jeffrey Epstein talked about,” Bessent said. “Your son’s largest investment position was Rick’s Cabaret. So did your son and Jeffrey Epstein talk about pole dancing as he begged him for money using your limited credibility?”
RCI Hospitality Holdings, previously known as Rick’s Cabaret, operates strip clubs across the United States.
Adam Wyden’s investment firm, ADW Capital, did not respond to a request from the Daily Signal for comment on Bessent’s remarks.
English (US)