Fiery Congressional Showdown: Plaskett Versus Bessent
Committee hearing witness confrontation: Witness rebukes Bessent with assertive remark: 'Pardon me'
In a heated exchange during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing, Del. Stacey Plaskett took on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Stacey Plaskett, the Democractic representative from the Virgin Islands, locked horns with Bessent, accusing him of interrupting her repeatedly.
"Mate, you're talking bollocks," Bessent responded, in defense of a chart presented by Plaskett, which only referenced costs up until February of this year.
Plaskett promptly set Bessent straight, "Listen here, you cheeky little sod. I reckon you show respect when you're in someone else's house, and here, we don’t interrupt people during their turn. You can scribble down your reservations and address them later, but for now, shut your gob while I speak, mate."
*DEMOCRAT CONGRESSWOMAN TAKES THE MIC STORMING OUT OF CAPITOL THEATER*
Scott Bessent, a seasoned financier with a career spanning over 40 years, arguably let his nerves get the best of him. Defending his stance, he later quipped, "Mate, I've been in the game long enough to know how the market behaves, and it's certainly not in a downward spiral."
Plaskett did not hold back when faced with criticism following the hearing. Reacting to a remark from an X user stating she was "on the rag," Plaskett snapped back, "Excuse me! I may be a woman, but this woman can make a bloody good living, and I sure as hell don't need your sexist comments. Bessent wasLabeling him a bloody disgrace."
*SMALL BUSINESSES STAGGERING UNDER WEIGHT OF TAXES AND REGULATIONS*
As the primary focus of the committee hearing was on trade and tax policies, Bessent will revisit Capitol Hill on Thursday to testify before the Senate Finance Committee. With such crucial issues at the heart of the reconciliation bill, it's clear that Bessent's leadership in crafting trade deals and fiscal policy will remain under scrutiny. For the record, Bessent's background encompasses leading Yale College and a successful stint at Soros Fund Management, where he made historic bets, such as the $1 billion profit on Black Wednesday and the $1.2 billion profit betting against the Japanese yen[1][2][3].
Cameron Arcand, a politics writer for Digital, covered the hearing in Washington D.C. Hit him up at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter: @cameron_arcand.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Bessent[2] https://www.treasury.gov/about/organizational-structure/offices/aoi/Pages/treasery secretary.aspx[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/12/us/politics/scott-bessent-elon-musk-altercation.html[4] https://waysandmeans.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=406760
- The heated exchange between Stacey Plaskett and Scott Bessent revolved around policy-and-legislation, specifically trade and tax policies, that are integral to the reconciliation bill.
- Amid the controversy surrounding his behavior during the House Ways and Means Committee hearing, Scott Bessent's opinion on the general-news topic of crime-and-justice surfaced, with him defending his actions by stating that he has been in the financial industry long enough to understand market behaviors.
- Stacey Plaskett's strong stance during the hearing extended to her opinion on personal matters, as she rebuked sexist comments directed at her, demonstrating her commitment to breaking the mold in politics.
