Defiant Scott Bessent Brushes Off Kristen Welker’s ‘Ridiculous Question’ About Iran War Funding
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed NBC News host Kristen Welker’s question about funding the Iran war as “ridiculous” and her framing as “terrible” during a tense Sunday exchange on “Meet the Press.” Welker…
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed NBC News host Kristen Welker’s question about funding the Iran war as “ridiculous” and her framing as “terrible” during a tense Sunday exchange on “Meet the Press.”
Welker asked Bessent whether the administration of President Donald Trump would “ever raise taxes” in order to fund the seemingly unpopularOperation Epic Fury against the Islamic theocracy. The treasury secretary initially responded by attacking Welker’s premise but not directly answering her question.
After Welker pressed Bessent multiple times for a “yes” or “no” response, he ultimately admitted a tax increase to fund the war is “not at all” what the administration is considering.
“Again, Kristen, terrible framing,” Bessent told Welker after she first asked the question.
“It’s a simple question that I think a lot of people have—,” the NBC News host fired back.
“It’s a ridiculous question,” the Trump administration treasury chief retorted.
“Can you answer it?” Welker asked.
“Why would we do that?” Bessent responded. “We have plenty. We have a trillion dollars in this year’s budget for the military. And President Trump, even before the conflict started, had said that he would like to further build out the military.”
WATCH: