Former Trump Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a masterclass in composure — and common sense — during a fiery Sunday interview on ABC’s *This Week*, where host Martha Raddatz tried (and failed) to trap him with a “gotcha” question about the ongoing government shutdown. Instead of taking the bait, Bessent calmly turned the tables, shredding the Democrat narrative and exposing who’s really to blame for Washington’s dysfunction.
The showdown took place on October 26, during what was then the third week of the longest government shutdown in American history. Democrats have been desperate to pin the blame on President Trump, but polls show most Americans understand what’s really happening: Democrats are holding the country hostage over reckless spending demands and refusing to negotiate in good faith.
Raddatz, like many in the corporate media, tried to push that false narrative. “People are suffering,” she said. “Federal employees are starting to go to food banks. Any light at the end of the tunnel? Should the President be meeting with Democrats again?”
But Bessent didn’t flinch. Instead, he exposed the cynical political games being played by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
“What good does it do?” Bessent shot back. “Martha, they dug in. The American people are hostage to Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries’ poll numbers. What’s changed between now and the last time there was a clean continuing resolution is Chuck Schumer has tanked in the polls.”
He went on to call out Democrats for their cowardice and hypocrisy. “Both of the two guys from Brooklyn, like I call them, are worried about being primaried from the left,” he said. “Fifty-two Republican senators have voted *eleven times* to reopen the government. Three brave moderate Democrats have come across the aisle. So I call on moderate Democrats to end this craziness.”
Bessent also blasted Democrats for failing to fund the military — a move he called “a disgrace.” “We found the money to pay our brave service members in October, and we’ll be able to do it again on November 1,” he said. “But we’re out of money on November 15. For our military not to get paid is a disgrace.”
He further warned that Democrat obstruction is beginning to hurt everyday Americans, not just those in Washington. “This is starting to eat into the economy,” he said. “It’s slowing the economy, and now we’re seeing problems with air traffic control that are starting to slow down our nation’s travel.”
Raddatz, visibly frustrated, tried again to pin the blame on the Trump Administration, reminding Bessent that Republicans control both the White House and Congress. “You don’t think you bear any responsibility for this?” she pressed.
That’s when Bessent delivered the knockout blow. “Martha, what can we do?” he said. “We inherited a mess. The Democrats left us the worst budget deficit-to-GDP ratio in modern history outside of wartime or recession — 6.5%. We’ve brought that down to 5.9%, and we’re not going to let them drive us off a cliff again with $1.5 trillion in new spending. It’s irresponsible.”
In one sharp exchange, Bessent dismantled the media’s favorite talking points, defended fiscal sanity, and reminded Americans why the Trump economic team remains the most competent and unapologetically pro-taxpayer administration in recent memory.
By the end of the interview, it was clear: Raddatz came looking for a soundbite — and Bessent gave her a lesson instead.
