Congressional Hearing Erupts as Bessent Trades Insults with Lawmakers/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s testimony before Congress turned volatile, filled with insults and shouting matches. Democratic lawmakers accused him of evading questions and defending Trump-linked controversies. Bessent returns to Capitol Hill Thursday for another tense appearance.
Scott Bessent’s Testimony Chaos: Quick Looks
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent faced House Democrats in heated exchanges over economic policy
- Testimony erupted with personal insults, interruptions, and shouting across party lines
- Rep. Garcia called out Bessent’s “demeaning” tone after immigration remarks
- Maxine Waters asked if someone could “shut him up” during tariff debate
- Rep. Meeks cursed at Bessent over Trump-linked cryptocurrency investments
- Bessent dismissed questions as unserious, sparking bipartisan frustration
- His rhetoric mirrors Trump’s combative style and disdain for institutional norms
- Bessent to testify again Thursday before the Senate Banking Committee
Deep Look: Congressional Hearing Erupts as Bessent Trades Insults with Lawmakers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s appearance before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday exploded into a barrage of insults, snide remarks, and partisan fury, shattering expectations of the usually staid fiscal oversight hearing.
Clashing repeatedly with Democratic lawmakers over topics ranging from housing policy to cryptocurrency, Bessent displayed a combative tone more associated with campaign rallies than Cabinet testimony. Tensions boiled over as members accused him of dismissiveness, political deflection, and turning oversight into a spectacle.
At one point, Bessent called Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas “confused” after she questioned the impact of undocumented immigrants on housing costs, drawing a sharp rebuke. “Don’t be demeaning to me, alright?” she fired back.
Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch grew visibly frustrated when Bessent mocked his inquiry into shuttered crypto investigations. “If we’re going to have a serious hearing, the answers have to be responsive,” Lynch insisted. Bessent’s quip: “Well, the questions have to be serious.”
The mood deteriorated further when Rep. Maxine Waters engaged Bessent in a contentious exchange over tariffs.
She asked committee leadership, “Can someone shut him up?” after Bessent continually interrupted.
The most explosive moment came during a heated back-and-forth with Rep. Gregory Meeks, who demanded answers about investments from the Abu Dhabi royal family into the Trump-connected World Liberty Financial cryptocurrency firm. Meeks, shouting, dropped an expletive and accused Bessent of acting as a “flunky” for Trump.
The Treasury Department declined to comment on the hearing’s tone or Bessent’s statements.
Graham Steele, a former Treasury official under Janet Yellen, called Bessent’s performance highly unorthodox.
“Treasury secretaries usually don’t engage in political combat,” he said. “They’re expected to preserve America’s financial reputation — not inflame partisanship.”
But Bessent’s aggressive posture isn’t new. In recent months, he’s ridiculed Democratic leaders with a string of provocative jabs. He’s labeled California Gov. Gavin Newsom “economically illiterate” and likened him to a serial killer. He’s repeatedly insulted Sen. Elizabeth Warren, calling her an “American Peronist” in response to her opposition to financing Trump-backed international deals.
Political analysts say Bessent’s behavior reflects Trump’s taste for loyal, combative appointees. “Belligerence isn’t an accident — it’s a requirement,” said David Lublin, chair of the Government Department at American University.
Still, Bessent may have crossed a line with his comments on monetary policy, a domain usually handled by the independent Federal Reserve. His claim that the president has authority to override central bank decisions raised eyebrows and drew criticism for undermining institutional norms.
“This is more than performative politics,” Lublin warned. “You have a Treasury Secretary actively promoting executive overreach into what should be independent financial decision-making.”
The drama isn’t over. Bessent is set to return to Capitol Hill Thursday for a Senate hearing focused on the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s annual report, which he chairs — another potential stage for fiery clashes.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.