Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Report Alleges Treasury Secretary Bessent Lost Temper During Confrontations
A newspaper reported several incidents involving Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
It said protesters interrupted his dinner at a Washington restaurant last December.
The report said Bessent became angry and left after spitting in his food.
It also described tense moments in his Treasury office.
Bessent denied one claim that he threw a binder against a wall.
The report said he yelled at John Hurley about a government investigation.
Seven Senate-confirmed Treasury officials had left by the end of August, according to the report.
President Donald Trump has said he likes Bessent’s feisty public persona.
A Wall Street Journal report says anti-war protesters interrupted Scott Bessent’s dinner at a Washington, D.C., restaurant last December.
According to the report, Bessent criticized the protesters and the restaurant owner, spat in his food, and left; the account cited the owner and a nearby diner.
The report, based on interviews with more than 30 current and former officials, describes aides as wary of Bessent’s moods and says his conduct contributed to some senior officials’ departures.
The Journal reported that Bessent threw a briefing-book binder against a wall, an account he denied, and yelled profanities at then-undersecretary John Hurley over a Minnesota fraud probe.
By the end of August, seven Senate-confirmed Treasury officials had left, while Bessent’s 3-3-3 targets remained unmet; President Donald Trump praised his public persona.
- Who
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, anti-war protesters, Treasury staff, and then-undersecretary John Hurley.
- What
- A Wall Street Journal report described alleged angry outbursts by Bessent and departures of Treasury officials.
- When
- The restaurant incident was last December; the report also described a confrontation in January and departures counted through the end of August.
- Where
- A Washington, D.C., restaurant and the US Treasury Department.
- Why
- The restaurant protesters criticized the Trump administration’s use of economic sanctions; the report said Bessent confronted Hurley over the pace of a Minnesota fraud probe.
Reported allegations
Denials and support
Binder incident
Reported allegations
The Journal reported that Bessent threw a briefing-book binder against a wall.
Denials and support
Bessent denied that account to the Journal.
Bessent’s temperament
Reported allegations
The report described aides as monitoring his mood and said his behavior contributed to senior officials’ departures.
Denials and support
Trump said he liked Bessent’s “feisty public persona”; Steve Bannon called him a good person who had a temper.
- Reporting outlet
- The Wall Street Journal
- Interviews cited
- More than 30 current and former officials
- Protester group
- Code Pink
- Senate-confirmed officials who left
- Seven by the end of August, according to the report
- Bessent’s stated economic strategy
- The “3-3-3” strategy: 3% GDP growth, a budget deficit of 3% of GDP by 2028, and three million additional barrels of oil production per day
- Binder allegation
- The report said Bessent threw a binder against a wall; Bessent denied the account
- Reported national debt
- US government debt had surpassed $40 trillion, according to the article