Who were the key Democrats that clashed with Secretary Bessent during the hearing?

Bessent traded insults with Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch, and Rep. Gregory Meeks.

What is Scott Bessent's background and when was he appointed Treasury Secretary?

Scott Bessent, a former hedge fund manager with 40 years in global investment including at Soros Fund Management, was sworn in as the 79th U.S. Treasury Secretary on January 28, 2025.

5 sources

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19d ago

Treasury Secretary Bessent Clashes With House Democrats

Bessent traded insults with Rep. Maxine Waters during a House Financial Services Committee hearing, telling her to "maintain some level of dignity."

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent engaged in repeated shouting matches and personal insults with Democrats, including Rep. Maxine Waters, during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, prompting chair Rep. French Hill to intervene.

The exchanges centered on tariffs, inflation and immigrations impact on housing, with Bessent defending President Trumps tariff policies and Democrats disputing his claims, according to the committee record.

The White House Rapid Response account called Rep. Maxine Waters "rude and low IQ" on social media, and the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, reporters said.

Bessent also sparred with Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch and Rep. Gregory Meeks, and has in recent months publicly called Gov. Gavin Newsom "economically illiterate" and Sen. Elizabeth Warren an "American Peronist," according to public statements.

Bessent is scheduled to testify before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Thursday about the Financial Stability Oversight Council annual report, giving senators another opportunity to press him, committee officials said.

Written using shared reports from

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Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

Center-leaning sources frame Bessent's hearing as theatrical and aberrant, using loaded verbs ("devolved," "fiery exchanges") and curating examples of insults and profanity to emphasize conflict. Editorial choices prioritize Democratic reactions and expert criticism while offering no Republican defense, structuring the piece to foreground personal combative behavior over policy substance.

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Sources (5)

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On Capitol Hill, Treasury Secretary Bessent’s testimony descends into insults and shouting matches

Associated Press•19d ago

White House slams 'rude and low IQ' Maxine Waters after Scott Bessent crushes her during congressional hearing

The Blaze•19d ago

Scott Bessent Throws Down With Maxine Waters In Wild Capitol Hill Exchange

The Daily Wire•19d ago

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'Shut Him Up': Rep. Waters Erupts at Treasury Secretary Bessent

Newsmax•19d ago

‘Shut him up’: Maxine Waters clashes with Treasury Sec Scott Bessent during House hearing on affordability

The Post Millennial•19d ago

FAQ

Dig deeper on this story with frequently asked questions.

: The exchanges centered on tariffs, inflation, and immigration's impact on housing, with Bessent defending President Trump’s tariff policies while Democrats disputed his claims.
Sources:
U.S. Department of the Treasury
: Bessent traded insults with Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Stephen Lynch, and Rep. Gregory Meeks.
Sources:
U.S. Department of the Treasury
: Scott Bessent, a former hedge fund manager with 40 years in global investment including at Soros Fund Management, was sworn in as the 79th U.S. Treasury Secretary on January 28, 2025.
Sources:
U.S. Department of the Treasury
: Bessent has publicly called Gov. Gavin Newsom 'economically illiterate' and Sen. Elizabeth Warren an 'American Peronist'.
Sources:
U.S. Department of the Treasury
: Bessent is scheduled to testify before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Thursday about the Financial Stability Oversight Council annual report.
Sources:
U.S. Department of the Treasury

History

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