Trump’s Treasury Secretary Caught in Blatant Lie to Congress | Scott Bessent claimed he never wrote a letter warning investors about the impact of tariffs. Well, here’s the proof.
Trump’s Treasury Secretary Caught in Blatant Lie to Congress | Scott Bessent claimed he never wrote a letter warning investors about the impact of tariffs. Well, here’s the proof.
He also spent $40 billion in taxpayer money bailing out his idiot hedge fund buddies with that Argentina farmer thing
goldenspear on
Back in the old constitutional law and order days we called lying to congress a felony.
hepakrese on
That shit eating grin of his…
Radically-Peaceful on
Trump/GOP’s corruption runs deep and is widespread.
BruceStarcrest on
I’m constantly amazed these ppl believe any of their economic policies will work.
Meaningful Reshoring would take ten plus years at best. A firm can not/will not build instructive, established supply changes etc etc. in a short period.
Simmery on
If we ever make it to a Democratic presidency again, that person needs to appoint an absolutely ruthless AG.
xocherrylips on
I never wrote that letter is a wild strategy when the letter exists, has your name on it, and is now being read aloud. Congress isn’t jury duty, my guy.
brain_overclocked on
The lie:
>Democratic Representative Maxine Waters caught Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a clear and obvious lie during a congressional hearing.
>“Did you write a letter to investors raising concerns about the impact of tariffs, writing that ‘tariffs are inflationary’? Did you say that at that time, yes or no?” Waters asked.
>“Uh, no,” Bessent replied.
>“OK … we have a New York Times article that agrees that you said that,” Waters said.
>“Great, New York Times,” Bessent said, smiling.
>Waters continued:
>“Last summer, when you testified before a Senate committee, you said, and I quote, ‘There is no inflation. Tariffs are not being passed on to consumers.’ You were quite definitive, and even claimed that critics had ‘tariff derangement syndrome,’” she said. “Well, those comments are at odds with the statement you made to investors that tariffs are inflationary…. Are tariffs inflationary? Yes or no?”
>“According to the San Francisco Federal Reserve … tariffs do not cause inflation,” Bessent said.
Bessent’s letter:
>Bessent may have very well perjured himself, given the letter he claimed doesn’t exist certainly does. In that January 2024 letter, which Semafor’s Eleanor Mueller first highlighted, Bessent wrote: “Tariffs are inflationary and would strengthen the dollar–hardly a good starting point for a US industrial renaissance.” He then goes on to argue that Trump will weaken the dollar to “make US manufacturing competitive.”
>Contrary to US government rhetoric, the cost of US import tariffs are not borne by foreign exporters. Instead, they hit the American economy itself. Importers and consumers in the US bear 96 percent of the tariff burden, according to new research from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
>Following a month where the trade deficit hit its lowest level since early 2009, it shot up to $56.8 billion, an increase of 94.6% from October. Of that gain, about one-third came with the European Union, where the goods deficit rose by $8.2 billion. The goods deficit with China decreased by about $1 billion to $13.9 billion.
>On a year-over-year basis, the deficit through November stood at $839.5 billion, or about 4% higher than the same period in 2024.
mabus42 on
Stick him in the slammer for contempt.
CrimsonHeretic on
In a just world the entire Trump cabinet would be locked up in Gitmo
DemandredG on
Any hint of consequences?
OkEnvironment3961 on
Scott Bessent is what smug would look like if smug had a face.
Maleficent-Space8823 on
Look at that Face. You know he is as sleazy as they come. Arrogance oozes out of his smirk. Can’t wait till he goes down with his portfolio.
1cat2dogs1horse on
He is so smarmy, I bet he leaves a slime trail behind him.
Smedley_Beamish on
Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him…
Frequent-Client1508 on
So perjury? Call it perjury.
CivilWay1444 on
A gay magat liar? Trifecta.
FlexFanatic on
So republicans are going to file charges like they did against Powell right ? /s
Cavalier1706 on
It’s almost like they’re all corrupt pieces of shit! Who knew drain the swamp meant importing nuclear waste in its place.
duke_chute on
Havnt seen a cabinet member lie this blatantly to Congress in well over a week or so.
All_Hail_Hynotoad on
So how many cabinet members have committed perjury so far?
Big-D-TX on
They All… Lie! It’s past time but this Blatant attempt to destroy our Democracy must end
elphin on
Trump’s most two most important job requiring are 1) you’re loyal to him and 2) you can lie with skill.
Most people (at least the ones I would spend time with) don’t lie or aren’t very good at it.
tomgratz on
Bessent lies like Trump. Stupid lies. Disgusting !
Giltar on
This whole administration is corrupt. I assume anything they say is a lie.
Aggravating_Wall2104 on
Everyone of them dispises the American people.
HeadPaleontologist40 on
These people are terrible liars who get exposed easily.
28 Comments
He also spent $40 billion in taxpayer money bailing out his idiot hedge fund buddies with that Argentina farmer thing
Back in the old constitutional law and order days we called lying to congress a felony.
That shit eating grin of his…
Trump/GOP’s corruption runs deep and is widespread.
I’m constantly amazed these ppl believe any of their economic policies will work.
Meaningful Reshoring would take ten plus years at best. A firm can not/will not build instructive, established supply changes etc etc. in a short period.
If we ever make it to a Democratic presidency again, that person needs to appoint an absolutely ruthless AG.
I never wrote that letter is a wild strategy when the letter exists, has your name on it, and is now being read aloud. Congress isn’t jury duty, my guy.
The lie:
>Democratic Representative Maxine Waters caught Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a clear and obvious lie during a congressional hearing.
>“Did you write a letter to investors raising concerns about the impact of tariffs, writing that ‘tariffs are inflationary’? Did you say that at that time, yes or no?” Waters asked.
>“Uh, no,” Bessent replied.
>“OK … we have a New York Times article that agrees that you said that,” Waters said.
>“Great, New York Times,” Bessent said, smiling.
>Waters continued:
>“Last summer, when you testified before a Senate committee, you said, and I quote, ‘There is no inflation. Tariffs are not being passed on to consumers.’ You were quite definitive, and even claimed that critics had ‘tariff derangement syndrome,’” she said. “Well, those comments are at odds with the statement you made to investors that tariffs are inflationary…. Are tariffs inflationary? Yes or no?”
>“According to the San Francisco Federal Reserve … tariffs do not cause inflation,” Bessent said.
Bessent’s letter:
>Bessent may have very well perjured himself, given the letter he claimed doesn’t exist certainly does. In that January 2024 letter, which Semafor’s Eleanor Mueller first highlighted, Bessent wrote: “Tariffs are inflationary and would strengthen the dollar–hardly a good starting point for a US industrial renaissance.” He then goes on to argue that Trump will weaken the dollar to “make US manufacturing competitive.”
Addendum:
* [America’s own goal: Americans pay almost entirely for Trump’s tariffs](https://www.kielinstitut.de/publications/news/americas-own-goal-americans-pay-almost-entirely-for-trumps-tariffs/)
>Contrary to US government rhetoric, the cost of US import tariffs are not borne by foreign exporters. Instead, they hit the American economy itself. Importers and consumers in the US bear 96 percent of the tariff burden, according to new research from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
* [Trump’s tariffs cost American households $1,000 last year: Research group](https://abcnews.com/Business/trumps-tariffs-cost-american-households-1000-year-research/story?id=130003484)
>The cost is set to go even higher this year to $1,300 per household, assuming the existing tariffs stay in place, the research said.
* [Trade deficit soared 94% in November and was higher than a year ago, despite tariff efforts](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/29/trade-balance-soared-94percent-in-november-and-was-higher-than-a-year-ago-despite-tariff-efforts.html)
>Following a month where the trade deficit hit its lowest level since early 2009, it shot up to $56.8 billion, an increase of 94.6% from October. Of that gain, about one-third came with the European Union, where the goods deficit rose by $8.2 billion. The goods deficit with China decreased by about $1 billion to $13.9 billion.
>On a year-over-year basis, the deficit through November stood at $839.5 billion, or about 4% higher than the same period in 2024.
Stick him in the slammer for contempt.
In a just world the entire Trump cabinet would be locked up in Gitmo
Any hint of consequences?
Scott Bessent is what smug would look like if smug had a face.
Look at that Face. You know he is as sleazy as they come. Arrogance oozes out of his smirk. Can’t wait till he goes down with his portfolio.
He is so smarmy, I bet he leaves a slime trail behind him.
Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him…
So perjury? Call it perjury.
A gay magat liar? Trifecta.
So republicans are going to file charges like they did against Powell right ? /s
It’s almost like they’re all corrupt pieces of shit! Who knew drain the swamp meant importing nuclear waste in its place.
Havnt seen a cabinet member lie this blatantly to Congress in well over a week or so.
So how many cabinet members have committed perjury so far?
They All… Lie! It’s past time but this Blatant attempt to destroy our Democracy must end
Trump’s most two most important job requiring are 1) you’re loyal to him and 2) you can lie with skill.
Most people (at least the ones I would spend time with) don’t lie or aren’t very good at it.
Bessent lies like Trump. Stupid lies. Disgusting !
This whole administration is corrupt. I assume anything they say is a lie.
Everyone of them dispises the American people.
These people are terrible liars who get exposed easily.
Consequences…? None again…? 🤔 I see.