WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unleashed a sharp rebuke against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday, dismissing Democratic criticisms of President Donald Trump’s China policy as hypocritical and ineffective.
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The exchange escalated as Bessent, speaking amid ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations, countered Jeffries’ recent accusation that Trump had been “punked by China” during high-stakes talks with President Xi Jinping. Jeffries, appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” lambasted the Trump administration’s approach, claiming it left the U.S. vulnerable on the global stage.
In a pointed response during an interview on Fox News Bessent turned the tables, accusing Democrats of inaction during their years in power. “He shut down the government—an international embarrassment,” Bessent said, referring to the ongoing partial federal shutdown now entering its fourth week. “Where were they? For two years, they had a trifecta. What did they do? They did squat. Talked a lot, nothing got done.”
Bessent, a key architect of Trump’s tariff strategy, highlighted what he described as a squandered opportunity under Democratic control. “We inherited a deficit of action on all these problems,” he said. “China proved itself to be unreliable during COVID, and they should’ve taken that as all-hands-on-deck. Instead, they blew out spending and sent money for transgender programs in Central America.”
The Treasury secretary did not hold back on Jeffries personally, calling the New York Democrat’s remarks “really disingenuous” and suggesting he “knows better.” Bessent further accused the Democratic leadership of being trapped in a rigid script. “For Jeffries to even say anything—is really disingenuous, and he knows better. But he can’t say better,” Bessent added. “They have one set of talking points… they can’t move away from them.”
The verbal sparring comes at a tense moment in U.S.-China relations. Trump is set to meet Xi in Busan, South Korea, this week, with Bessent announcing a potential “framework” for a substantial trade deal that could avert new 100% tariffs on Chinese goods. Earlier talks have yielded concessions, including increased Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products and cooperation on curbing fentanyl precursors, according to administration officials.
Democrats, meanwhile, have seized on the government shutdown—triggered by disputes over border funding—as a symbol of Republican dysfunction. Jeffries has repeatedly urged Trump to “end this manufactured crisis,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faces mounting pressure from his party’s left flank.
Bessent’s comments drew immediate praise from Trump allies on social media, with one post hailing it as a “MIC DROP” moment that exposed Democratic inconsistencies. The White House has not yet issued an official statement on the Bessent-Jeffries dust-up, but sources close to the administration described it as emblematic of Trump’s aggressive pushback against perceived adversaries.
As trade talks intensify, Bessent reiterated optimism about resolving key issues, including rare earth export controls and nuclear non-proliferation concerns. “It’s all hands on deck,” he said, emphasizing the need for America to “catch up” in strategic areas like nuclear development.
