Treasury staff reportedly exchanged tips on handling Scott Bessent’s mood, while some said they felt relieved when he was away from the office
WASHINGTON, DC: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is facing fresh scrutiny over his reported temper after a Wall Street Journal investigation detailed an alleged confrontation at a Washington, DC, restaurant.
The incident reportedly happened in December last year, when Bessent was dining at a Brazilian-Italian restaurant and was confronted by Code Pink activists protesting economic sanctions. According to the Journal, the confrontation left Bessent furious with the restaurant owner, whom he blamed for not removing the protesters.
Citing the restaurant owner and a nearby diner, the Journal reported that Bessent spat in his food before storming out. The incident was among several accounts in the report about Bessent’s conduct during his roughly 20 months leading the Treasury.
Scott Bessent reportedly erupted after Code Pink confrontation
The restaurant confrontation began when Code Pink activists approached Bessent over US economic sanctions. They accused the Treasury secretary of “oversee[ing] the deaths of 600,000 people due to sanctions annually.”
Bessent reportedly became angry with the restaurant owner after the protesters confronted him and were not removed. The Journal said he then spat in his food and left the restaurant.
The episode has added to reports about Bessent’s reportedly volatile temperament at the Treasury. People who spoke with the Journal said staffers have exchanged advice about dealing with his mood before meeting him.
Some employees reportedly felt relieved when Bessent was away from the office, while others said his behavior “was a factor in the departure of multiple key officials” during his tenure.
The Journal also detailed several confrontations involving senior officials and political figures.
Scott Bessent’s reported clashes add to temper concerns
One reported incident involved John Hurley, the former undersecretary for te**orism and financial intelligence.
After President Donald Trump asked Bessent to investigate alleged fraud in Minnesota’s Somali community, Bessent reportedly reprimanded Hurley in front of staffers for “dragging his feet.” The Journal reported that Bessent yelled profanities at Hurley loudly enough for nearby employees to hear.
Hurley left the Treasury in February but praised Bessent as “a brilliant and fearless warrior for President Trump and the American people.” Bessent has denied at least one other account of losing his temper.
The Journal reported that he became angry over the organization of his daily briefing book and threw a binder filled with papers at a wall. His reported clashes have also extended beyond the Treasury.
During Trump’s second term, Bessent and Elon Musk were involved in a heated dispute over who would run the Internal Revenue Service.
The Journal also reported that Bessent confronted Bill Pulte at a private dinner in 2025 and was “physically threatening” toward him. Former Treasury officials told the Journal that Bessent “enjoys cultivating a tough-guy image” and has found reports about his altercations “humorous.”
Trump reportedly backs Scott Bessent’s tough image
Despite the reports, President Donald Trump has reportedly told advisers that he likes Bessent’s “feisty public persona.”
Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House chief adviser, described Bessent as a “good person” but acknowledged that “he’s got a tripwire and he’s got a temper.”
The Treasury defended Bessent, saying he “approaches the job with a deep sense of responsibility and urgency” after working in demanding roles in global finance.
“He has high expectations of the United States Treasury’s performance because the American people deserve the best outcomes,” a Treasury spokesperson told The Independent.
The White House also defended Bessent, pointing to “the level of professionalism and accountability” he has brought to the department.
The Treasury highlighted Bessent’s work on the Working Families Tax Cuts, IRS efficiency, Trump Accounts, bank regulatory reform and the US-China economic relationship.
