Scott Bessent
ON THE RECORD · 130 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“And I think it is very reckless for President Zelenskyy to make such a charge.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-18 · reported 2026-10-19
Bessent called it reckless for Zelenskyy to claim the US government was behind the slowing of satellite communications.
“presents a false binary this morning that Ukraine must win”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-18 · reported 2026-10-19
Bessent spoke with Meet the Press after Zelenskyy's interview aired and criticized the Ukrainian president's framing.
“The war must end, and that will be with some kind of a negotiated settlement,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-18 · reported 2026-10-19
Bessent said the war must end through a negotiated settlement while speaking with Meet the Press.
“President Trump and Secretary Rubio have categorically said that no one in the Trump administration did that,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-18 · reported 2026-10-19
Bessent said Trump and Rubio had categorically denied that anyone in the administration slowed SpaceX satellite communications.
“We’ll get to the other side of this Iran conflict, and the underlying economy is very, very strong, and I think reaccelerating.”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-17
Bessent expressed confidence in the underlying U.S. economy while speaking at Southern Methodist University.
“With 3% growth, we grow our way out of this,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-17
Bessent argued that stronger economic growth could help bring the national debt under control.
“The Department of the Treasury will not relent until the Iranian regime’s coffers are empty and every remaining financial lifeline sustaining its war machine has been severed,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-15 · reported 2026-10-15
Bessent said the Treasury will not relent until Iran's financial lifelines sustaining its war machine are severed.
“The noose is tightening around Iran’s economy, and not even Iran’s so-called allies can save it,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-15 · reported 2026-10-15
Bessent declared on X that Washington will not ease economic pressure on Tehran.
“grow our way out”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Bessent told CNBC in August that the U.S. could grow its way out of a rising debt-to-GDP ratio after government debt surpassed $40 trillion.
“When a bank of this size fails to meet its anti-money laundering and sanctions obligations, the consequences extend far beyond its own walls, exposing the entire US financial system to significant illicit finance risks,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-14
The US Treasury Secretary commented on penalties imposed against Bank of America for violating anti-money laundering and sanctions laws.
“Today's actions send a clear message that even the biggest financial institutions are not above the law,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-13
Treasury announced more than $1.2 billion in federal penalties against Bank of America for anti-money-laundering violations.
“This is good for the American people … bringing these diesel prices down.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
Bessent defended the deal on Sunday, saying it would benefit the American people by lowering diesel prices.
“We’re going to do it with all the legal authorities we have,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-11 · reported 2026-10-11
Bessent argued on Fox and Friends that easing sanctions was necessary to address surging diesel prices.
“American farmers, truckers, and businesses should not be left carrying the burden of a global diesel shortage”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-01 · reported 2026-10-02
Bessent wrote on X late Thursday amid a Trump administration pressure campaign on European allies over diesel reserves.
“should accelerate delivery on their existing commitments and make additional supplies immediately available to address ongoing disruptions.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-10-01 · reported 2026-10-02
Bessent urged European partners to accelerate diesel deliveries amid ongoing supply disruptions.
“Our European partners should accelerate delivery on their existing commitments and make additional supplies immediately available to address ongoing disruptions,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-02
Bessent urged Europe to tap its reserves in a social media post amid rising diesel prices due to the war on Iran.
“When there's a disequilibrium, my job is to try to push things back towards equilibrium,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-09-08 · reported 2026-09-24
Bessent said at a Breitbart event on Sept. 8 that his job is to try to push things back toward equilibrium when there is a disequilibrium.
“I don't believe that I can change the equilibrium price, but nothing's ever in equilibrium,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-09-08 · reported 2026-09-24
Bessent said at a Breitbart event on Sept. 8 that he seeks to push markets back toward equilibrium when they are in disequilibrium.
“very good private discussions”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent claimed to have had very good private discussions with Chinese officials over ending economic ties with Iran.
“One, the regime turns on each other — not impossible,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent told Fox News the Iran conflict could end in three ways, the first being members of the regime turning on each other.
“They're very eager to engage with us on AI because… the U.S. is substantially in the lead, China's behind us,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent said China was eager to engage with the U.S. on AI because the U.S. is substantially ahead.
“We have agreed today that we will extend what we call the Busan agreement, the economic detente between the two countries that was scheduled to end on Nov. 10 that is going to be extended until Jan. 10 to give us more time to see what we can do on the economic front,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-09-23 · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent announced on Fox News that the U.S. and China agreed to extend the bilateral trade truce known as the Busan agreement until January 10.
“We have an effort never seen before in terms of constricting and cutting off the financial oxygen to them,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent described the Treasury Department's sweeping economic pressure campaign against Iran as an effort to constrict the regime's financial oxygen.
“Two, we get some kind of uprising for the Iranian people. They've probably killed 50,000 of their own population, so very difficult. And then three, to get the Iranians to, if they want to make a deal, to stick to the deal.”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent told Fox News the Iran conflict could end through a regime uprising, an Iranian popular revolt, or Tehran reaching and adhering to a deal.
“I think we are working to define with them what we think the most important or the most perilous risk factors are, whether it's uncontrolled AI agents, whether it is non-state actors using AI, either for cyber ops or for biologics.”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent said the U.S. and China were working to define the most perilous AI risk factors, including uncontrolled AI agents and non-state actors using AI.
“It's very important for us to engage on this,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent said it was very important for the U.S. and China to engage on AI safety.
“watermarks of our U.S. large language models on many of the Chinese models,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
In July, Bessent threatened sanctions against companies using distillation and said the Trump administration found watermarks of U.S. large language models on Chinese models.
“External flights from Iran, probably more than 80 or 90% of them, got shut down. I'm not sure how the Iranian representatives at the UN are gonna get home,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent said he was unsure how Iranian officials attending the UN General Assembly would return home after restrictions shut down most external flights from Iran.
“We have made it very clear around the world, whether it's the financiers, the people who are doing business, the people who are supplying the Iranians, we know who you are, you know who you are, and we are going to prosecute and execute your companies and your bank accounts every day and every week,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent warned that the Treasury would pursue financiers and businesses doing business with or supplying Iran.
“And I don't know whether it's gonna be a week, a month or two months, but they're going to yell uncle.”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Bessent said he did not know how long the economic pressure would take but predicted Iran would eventually yield.
“We think that, just like with any cross-border activity, that moving from opaque to more transparency between the number one and the number two AI powers in the world is very important,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-09-20 · reported 2026-09-20
Bessent spoke after concluding about eight hours of talks with Chinese officials in New York ahead of a Trump-Xi summit.
“I would just say the president is completely aligned with Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-09-14 · reported 2026-09-20
Bessent said at a House hearing on Monday that the president is completely aligned with Nvidia's CEO.
“common goals and common threats”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-09-20 · reported 2026-09-20
Bessent argued both sides should have a way to communicate over shared goals and threats between the world's two leading AI powers.
“I am the house,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-19
Bessent proclaimed this as he attempted to bring long-term interest rates down by buying treasuries.
“You can bet against me if you want.”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-19
Bessent said this in the same statement, as he resorted to unconventional tactics to lower treasury yields.
“the greatest economic isolation campaign in the history of the world.”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-18
Bessent defended the administration's Iran war strategy before Congress this week amid pressure over rising energy costs.
“toughest sanctions in history”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-08
Bessent commented on the Trump administration's series of measures designed to further squeeze the Iranian economy.
“Under Operation Economic Outcast, we promised severe consequences for those providing financial lifelines to the Iranian regime,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-09-07 · reported 2026-09-08
The US Treasury Department announced 36 Iran-related sanctions on commercial and private airlines as part of an effort called Operation Economic Outcast.
“Today, we followed through on that promise with sanctions on companies that continue to support Mahan Air. Let this be a warning to anyone doing business with Iran’s remaining airlines, all of which we sanctioned today: You are at risk of being cut off from the global financial system.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-09-07 · reported 2026-09-08
The sanctions expand existing restrictions on Mahan Air and target other Iran-based aviation companies and firms that provide them with services.
“So that will run out soon and there will be no problem with China buying because they have no product.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-09-06 · reported 2026-09-06
Bessent said Iranian oil supplies would run out soon, ending China's ability to buy.
“There’s probably only about 30 million barrels of Iranian crude oil left that China hasn’t bought,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-09-06 · reported 2026-09-06
Bessent told Fox News that only about 30 million barrels of Iranian crude oil remained for China to purchase.
“celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all”
Scott Bessent · said 2025-07-15 · reported 2026-09-02
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the coin in a social media post on July 15.
“celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-09-02
Bessent announced the coin in a social media post on July 15.
“The world cannot have a China with a US$1.2 trillion (HK$9.36 trillion) trade surplus,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Bessent told Reuters ahead of a G20 finance leaders meeting in the United States that China's trade surplus is unsustainable.
“In China, the economy is quite weak, and they are trying to export their way out of it, and they need to rebalance their economy,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Bessent added that China's economy is weak and Beijing needs to rebalance by reducing reliance on exports.
“a completely false narrative that the media picked up on.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-30
Bessent rejected the idea that the administration was reluctant to confront China, calling it a completely false narrative.
“Why would I want to blow up the global financial system?”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-30
Scott Bessent was asked why Washington was not immediately imposing its most sweeping secondary sanctions.
“This is going to be financial violence if we have to,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-30
Bessent told the AP the Trump administration plans to impose sanctions on another bank as it intensifies efforts to economically isolate Iran.
“all options are on the table”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-30
Bessent told the AP he would speak to his Chinese counterparts at the G20 meeting and said all options are on the table regarding sanctioning Beijing for its continued purchases of Iranian oil.
“We are showing people that we know who you are, you know who you are, and this has got to stop.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-30
Bessent said this in an AP interview ahead of G20 meetings regarding efforts to clamp down on Iran transactions.
“In her latest sciolistic letter to me, @SenWarren made it clear that she knows even less about foreign exchange markets than she does about banking,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-28 · reported 2026-08-28
Bessent wrote on X that Warren understood little about foreign-exchange markets.
“Treasury exchanged existing Exchange Stabilization Fund foreign-currency assets for yen,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-27 · reported 2026-08-28
Bessent responded to Warren's letter about the Exchange Stabilization Fund currency swap.
“No new congressional appropriation was involved, and no credit was extended to Japan. Japan owes Treasury nothing.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-27 · reported 2026-08-28
Bessent clarified that no credit was extended to Japan and Japan owes Treasury nothing.
“Why would I want to blow up the global financial system? We believe that it is important to level set and give people a cure period, but they should know that that will move very quickly and that we are serious,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-26
Bessent said Monday that he did not want to blow up the global financial system and that the U.S. would give people a cure period before moving quickly on sanctions.
“Political terrorism has no place in our society, and we will continue to cut the financial lifelines of these groups until they are eliminated.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Bessent's statement continued, pledging to cut the financial lifelines of targeted groups.
“get with the program”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-26
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China should get with the program regarding sanctions during a CNBC interview.
“Far-left extremists, their fronts, and their enablers should be on notice: We will bring the full weight of our economic tools to bear,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-26 · reported 2026-08-26
Bessent issued a statement announcing sanctions against what the Trump administration called far-left terrorist groups.
“If they facilitate transactions and are part of the ecosystem that turns Iranian oil into money, into repression, they will be targeted.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-25
When asked specifically about Chinese banks, Bessent said entities facilitating transactions that turn Iranian oil into money and repression would be targeted.
“money laundering or sanctions evasion on behalf of Iran risks being cut off from the U.S. financial system.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-25
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday that entities facilitating money laundering or sanctions evasion for Iran risk being cut off from the U.S. financial system.
“any nation that serves as a financial artery of a withering regime should expect to share in its isolation”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent warned foreign governments still transacting with Tehran that they should expect to share in Iran's isolation.
“Why would I want to blow up the global financial system?”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent told reporters he wanted countries to have an opportunity to shift away from Iran before imposing secondary sanctions.
“shut down activities we have identified,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent said the U.S. will start by sending timelines to individual countries to shut down identified activities.
“no one is above the reach of U.S. sanctions,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Asked whether the U.S. would target China, Bessent said no one is beyond the reach of U.S. sanctions.
“So when the hammer of U.S. Treasury actions falls upon them, they will have no one to blame but themselves.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent warned that countries doing business with Iran would face U.S. Treasury actions.
“the single greatest financial offensive ever”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-23 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent said the U.S. will unveil the measures on Monday as both sides missed a 60-day ceasefire window.
“at dawn begins an economic D-Day,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-23 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent made the remark in a post on X Sunday evening, framing the coming measures as the endgame for Washington's campaign against Tehran.
“The clock just started ticking.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent indicated the countdown for compliance with the new sanctions plan has begun.
“We are launching an economic onslaught against Iran's financial connections around the globe,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent unveiled a new sanctions scheme against Iran dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast."
“specific requests to cease their interactions”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent said President Trump is calling world leaders and making specific requests regarding their interactions with Iran.
“making phone calls to world leaders with specific requests to cease their interactions”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent said Trump has been contacting world leaders to ask them to cease interactions with Iran.
“We are level-setting with every country to tell them our expectations. We know who they are. They know who they are,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent said the U.S. was warning every country doing business with Iran about its expectations.
“We want to make clear here today that no one is above the reach of U.S. sanctions,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
When asked if the administration would target Chinese banks, Bessent suggested China would not be exempt from the sanctions.
“Any entity that facilitates money laundering on behalf of Iran will be removed from the U.S. dollar system,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent warned that entities facilitating money laundering on behalf of Iran face removal from the U.S. dollar system.
“is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-24
Bessent said the new U.S. objective is to sever every economic lifeline sustaining the Iranian regime.
“the toughest sanctions in history”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23
Scott Bessent described upcoming punitive economic measures against Iran.
“Look, there’s nothing magic about that $40tn number,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-23
Scott Bessent downplayed the significance of the United States national debt surpassing $40 trillion.
“talk about exactly what we're going to do.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-22
Scott Bessent announced an upcoming news conference to detail new economic measures against Iran.
“either with us or against us”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-22
Scott Bessent stated the position expected from other countries regarding new US sanctions on Iran.
“get with the program.”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pressed Beijing to comply with sanctions against Iran.
“We can grow our way out of that.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-21
Scott Bessent addressed concerns regarding the rising United States national debt pile.
“It is going to work in Iran, and we are going to collapse this regime.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent predicted the sanctions would topple the Iranian government.
“We'll see what the conditions are, and you know we will analyze them,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Scott Bessent explained that debt buyback amounts would depend on analyzing market conditions.
“We are going to make a market in these. We routinely do buybacks, and we're going to increase the size of the buyback … it could be more than $4 billion per issue,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the Treasury Department is prepared to increase the size of its debt buybacks.
“Part of it is signaling here and to show that we believe that the yields don't reflect the underlying fundamentals,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent explained that part of the Treasury's approach is signaling that yields don't reflect underlying fundamentals.
“We are going to collapse this regime. It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent urged US allies to back Washington's push to collapse Iran's economy, speaking to CNBC.
“Under President Trump's leadership, Treasury is putting simple, commonsense protections in place to help families keep more of their investment returns.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent commented on the proposed low-cost investment guidance for Trump Accounts.
“We are going to collapse this regime,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent said the U.S. plan aims to collapse the Iranian regime.
“like the world has never seen before”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
Scott Bessent stated that the US would soon impose severe economic isolation on Iran.
“toughest sanctions in history”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated during an interview that the U.S. will impose historic sanctions on Iran.
“We are going to be laser focused,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent made the remark to CNBC's Sara Eisen in an exclusive interview about the U.S. budget deficit and fiscal consolidation efforts.
“We are confident that everyone wants the strait reopened, and for energy prices to come back down,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent argued that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would benefit all countries, including China.
“the greatest co-ordinated economic isolation in the history of the world”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent described the planned sanctions as an unprecedented global economic isolation effort against Iran.
“It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent said allies and the world must make a decision regarding Iran.
“Keep in mind that the Chinese get 50 percent … of their energy from inside the Gulf. So it would do them a big service to get with the programme.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent noted China's reliance on Gulf energy as a reason to support the US strategy.
“We have a big toolkit,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed the options available to the Treasury to manage bond yields.
“Part of it is signaling here to show that we believe yields don't reflect the underlying fundamentals of this Iran conflict. We will get on the other side of this.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained the Treasury's strategy of signaling support to market yields during the Iran conflict.
“Our message to our allies, our trading partners, is that global growth is the way to take care of this mountain of debt,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Scott Bessent emphasized that global economic growth is key to addressing the national debt.
“We’re going to them and saying: You’re either with us or against us,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent warned other countries about continuing to trade with Iran.
“We are going to squash the economy of this murderous regime.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent said the U.S. would squash the Iranian regime's economy.
“Every dollar in a child's Trump Account should be working toward that child's financial future, not diminished by unnecessary fees,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent commented on the proposed low-cost investment guidance for Trump Accounts.
“I would note that it could be more than the 4 billion per issue.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Scott Bessent noted that debt buybacks could exceed $4 billion per issue.
“If you insist on doing business with them, either transferring money, buying their oil... then the US Treasury and the US government will put [their] full might and force towards enforcing against you,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent warned trading partners of enforcement action if they continued business with Iran.
“All we're trying to do is get people to focus on the fundamentals and not trade the headlines during a quiet period in a thin market.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Scott Bessent urged market participants to focus on underlying fundamentals rather than headlines.
“If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent told CNBC that maximum economic pressure would likely prevent a return to large-scale military conflict with Iran.
“If you insist on doing business with [Iran], either transferring money, buying their oil or doing seaborne ship transfers, then the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. government ... will put its full might and force toward enforcing against you,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent warned that countries doing business with Iran would face enforcement from the U.S. Treasury and government.
“We're going to increase the size of the buyback,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Scott Bessent stated that the Treasury plans to expand the size of its debt buybacks.
“It is a one-two punch. We have the blockade [on Iran], and we are going to have the toughest sanctions in history,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent explained the two-pronged US approach of a blockade and new sanctions on Iran.
“There's nothing magic about the 40-trillion number,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent downplayed concerns about the national debt surpassing $40 trillion.
“We have a big toolkit, so we'll see,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Scott Bessent mentioned the Treasury's options regarding pressure on the long end of the yield curve.
“If you insist on doing business with them — either transferring money, buying oil, doing seaborne ship transport — then the US Treasury and the US government, they will put its full might and force towards enforcing against you.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent detailed the enforcement actions the US Treasury would take against countries trading with Iran.
“There's nothing magic about the 40 trillion number, and we can grow our way out of that,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Scott Bessent addressed the national debt reaching $40 trillion and the plan to address it through growth.
“I think that the Treasury and the Fed would work together if there was any change in the balance sheet, and we would adjust to any kind of runoff that they're doing,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent suggested continued coordination between Treasury and the Fed on balance sheet changes.
“You are either with us or against us,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-20 · reported 2026-08-20
Bessent told CNBC that countries must choose sides regarding US pressure on Iran.
“protect the integrity of the tax system, and put Americans first,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-19 · reported 2026-08-19
Bessent commented on the proposed rules restricting tax credit eligibility in a Treasury press release.
“We are going to apply measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Bessent told Newsmax the administration planned unprecedented new sanctions on Iran's economy.
“never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19
Bessent said the US plans to intensify economic pressure on Iran with unprecedented measures.
“There is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the Strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-04 · reported 2026-08-04
Bessent added that a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz could be reached soon, sending oil prices lower.
“we are in talks with the Iranians.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-08-04 · reported 2026-08-04
Oil prices moved lower after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box" that the U.S. is in talks with the Iranians.
“will be on the table”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-07-22 · reported 2026-07-23
Bessent said sanctions would be on the table when Chinese companies cross the line into intellectual property theft via industrial-scale distillation attacks.
“We support open-source AI and the innovation it unlocks. But open source is not open season on American IP,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2026-07-23
Bessent said on social media that the US supports open-source AI but that it is not open season on American intellectual property.
“a lasting symbol of patriotism.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-17
Bessent announced the Treasury will issue a new commemorative $1 coin bearing Trump's likeness.
“continue to aggressively follow the money and deny the Iranian regime access to the proceeds of its illicit revenue schemes.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-15
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post on X that the administration will continue to aggressively follow the money and deny the Iranian regime access to illicit revenue.
“From this day forward, every driver that encounters this bridge will see that it bears his name, because he has never stopped fighting for the people who travel on it because he has made their cause his own,”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-07-09 · reported 2026-07-10
Bessent spoke at an unveiling ceremony in Tennessee for a bridge renamed after Trump.
“38% of American families do not have any exposure to our great equity markets.”
Scott Bessent · said 2026-07-06 · reported 2026-07-06
Bessent declared the statistic before the bell ringing event promoting the launch of Trump Accounts.
“Everyone is willing to pay a toll,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2025-07-29
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed foreign countries are willing to pay tariffs to preserve access to the U.S. market.
“And if the president is unhappy, then they will boomerang back to the 25% tariff rates, both on cars and the rest of their products. And I can tell you that I think at 25, especially in cars, the Japanese economy doesn’t work,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2025-07-26
Scott Bessent explained that Japan's trade framework terms would be reviewed quarterly.
“There’s nothing that tells me that [Powell] should step down right now. He’s been a good public servant,”
Scott Bessent · said 2025-07-22 · reported 2025-07-24
Bessent defended Powell during an appearance on Fox Business.
“This groundbreaking technology will buttress the dollar’s status as the global reserve currency, expand access to the dollar economy for billions across the globe, and lead to a surge in demand for US Treasuries, which back stablecoins,”
Scott Bessent · said date not stated · reported 2025-07-19
Scott Bessent released a statement commending the new legislation's impact on the US dollar and Treasuries.
“Today’s action highlights the critical role of leaders like Niño Guerrero and his lieutenants in Tren de Aragua’s efforts to increase its destabilizing influence throughout the region,”
Scott Bessent · said 2025-07-17 · reported 2025-07-17
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned key leaders and affiliates of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua.
“The Trump Administration will not allow Tren de Aragua to continue to terrorize our communities and harm innocent Americans. In line with President Trump’s mandate to Make America Safe Again, Treasury remains dedicated to dismantling Tren de Aragua and disrupting the group’s campaign of violence.”
Scott Bessent · said 2025-07-17 · reported 2025-07-17
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned top leaders and affiliates of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization.