A scathing new report on President Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reveals a man with a hair-trigger temper prone to split-second rages and tantrums.
One of the story’s most stunning accounts from The Wall Street Journal involves Bessent’s behavior at a Washington restaurant last December.
Bessent reportedly became so infuriated when protesters showed up inside the Brazilian-Italian eatery that he yelled at the owner, spit in his food, and stormed out, WSJ reported. The outlet cited the owner and a nearby diner confirming the incident.
Social media users expressed disgust, with some mocking his behavior and others questioning his fitness for public office.
“Such a fussy big boy,” a Threads user stated. This poster stated, “He should resign and take that time to learn how to cook at home.”
Another noted, “The Secretary has a mean streak. Birds of a feather…….” An X user proclaimed, “Pathetic pig.”
The WSJ report goes on to reveal other disturbing incidents between Bessent, his staffers and members of the Trump administration during his 20 months in office.
Trump is unconcerned about the behavior. He’s told advisers that he’s a fan of Bessent’s “feisty public persona.” But what’s clear is Bessent is at the helm of a worsening economy just weeks before the November midterms.
A Treasury Department spokesperson told the WSJ that Bessent “approaches the job with a deep sense of responsibility and urgency” and has worked “in some of the most demanding roles in global finance.”
Accounts of Bessent’s unprofessional behavior include yelling profanities at staffers, throwing things, and even physical altercations with others in Trump’s orbit, including Elon Musk. He’s also fought with Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
At a private dinner last September, Bessent became so enraged with Pulte that he threatened to punch him “in the f-cking face,” Politico reported.
Bessent apparently learned Pulte, also the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, had been badmouthing him to Trump.
“Why the f-ck are you talking to the president about me? F-ck you,” a furious Bessent reportedly slammed Pulte. “I’m gonna punch you in your f-cking face.”
Politico cited one eyewitness and four others familiar with the exchange in its report.
Bessent also clashed with Congresswoman Maxine Waters during a House hearing in September, refusing to answer basic questions about the economy he’s overseeing.
In early September, the national debt under Trump surpassed $40 trillion. The annual inflation rate remained high, standing at 3.4% for the 12-month period ending in August, according to NerdWallet.
One measure of rising inflation is the Consumer Price Index, or Core CPI, which excludes food and energy because they tend to be more volatile. Core CPI rose 2.4 percent from a year ago. Nerd Wallet reports that it compares to 2.5% for the year ending July.
Prices for food, energy, and other goods and services have skyrocketed since Trump returned to the White House in January of 2025.
After Trump launched a deadly and unapproved boondoggle of a war on Iran in February, gas prices have spiked well above $4 a gallon, and diesel is now at record-breaking levels well over $6 a gallon.
