Rep. Sanchez accuses Treasury Secretary Bessent of gender-based interruption

[ad_1] NEW Now you can hearken to Fox Information articles!

A Home Methods and Means Committee listening to took an sudden flip Wednesday when Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) accused Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of interrupting her due to her gender—prompting audible groans from the room.

The trade occurred throughout a tense five-minute questioning session, the place Sanchez challenged Bessent on the influence of tariffs enacted beneath President Trump’s administration.

"Costs are rising on many on a regular basis items," Sanchez mentioned, citing will increase in clothes, sneakers, canned meals, toys, and family instruments. She added, "On common, Trump’s tariffs are estimated to value households $3,000 extra for a similar items than they might have final yr," although she didn't cite the supply of the determine when pressed.

TRUMP SAYS 'TOTAL RESET NEGOTIATED' WITH CHINA DURING TARIFF TALKS IN GENEVA

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/343/192/democrat-congresswoman-gets-audible-groans-in-committee-hearing-after-accusing-trump-appointee-of-sexism.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/686/384/democrat-congresswoman-gets-audible-groans-in-committee-hearing-after-accusing-trump-appointee-of-sexism.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/672/378/democrat-congresswoman-gets-audible-groans-in-committee-hearing-after-accusing-trump-appointee-of-sexism.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/1344/756/democrat-congresswoman-gets-audible-groans-in-committee-hearing-after-accusing-trump-appointee-of-sexism.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/931/523/democrat-congresswoman-gets-audible-groans-in-committee-hearing-after-accusing-trump-appointee-of-sexism.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/1862/1046/democrat-congresswoman-gets-audible-groans-in-committee-hearing-after-accusing-trump-appointee-of-sexism.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/720/405/democrat-congresswoman-gets-audible-groans-in-committee-hearing-after-accusing-trump-appointee-of-sexism.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/06/1440/810/democrat-congresswoman-gets-audible-groans-in-committee-hearing-after-accusing-trump-appointee-of-sexism.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., speaks throughout a Home Methods and Means Committee listening to on June 11, 2025. Sanchez accused Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of interrupting her as a result of she is a girl, a comment that drew audible groans from the viewers. (Pool)

When Bessent attempted to interject, Sanchez shortly reduce him off: "Please don’t interrupt me… I do know I’m a girl, however please attempt to restrict your self to answering my questions."

That comment prompted groans from the listening to room, with one attendee audibly reacting, "Oh, come on." Sanchez responded: "No, I’m sorry, however we get talked over on a regular basis, and I don’t need that to occur at this listening to."

Bessent, who's brazenly homosexual, didn't tackle the accusation and as a substitute centered on defending the administration’s commerce insurance policies.

When Sanchez challenged him on pricing impacts and China's commerce conduct, Bessent responded, "That’s incorrect," and mentioned, "They met their agreements beneath President Trump in 2020, and President Biden didn't implement them."

WH SLAMS DEMS' 'PARTISAN GAMES' AFTER TRUMP-FOE SCHIFF CALLS FOR INSIDER TRADING INVESTIGATION OVER TARIFFS

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testifies earlier than the Home Methods and Means Committee on Capitol Hill, June 11, 2025. Bessent defended the Trump administration’s commerce insurance policies and rejected financial claims made by Democratic lawmakers. (Pool)

Sanchez repeatedly claimed that American shoppers are paying extra because of tariffs and described current negotiations with China as rushed and missing transparency. "A poorly negotiated commerce take care of China might be not definitely worth the paper that it's written on," she mentioned. "I used to be alarmed to listen to this morning that Trump mentioned the U.S.–China deal was executed after simply two days of talks in London."

Scott Bessent, US treasury secretary, throughout a Home Methods and Means Committee listening to in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Bessent credited President Donald Trump's insurance policies for a slowdown in US inflation, and mentioned he had challenged a "decades-old established order" on commerce. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)

Bessent defended the settlement as an preliminary step. "The deal struck was for a particular objective, and it will likely be a for much longer course of," he mentioned, including, "China has confirmed an unreliable associate."

The conflict between Sanchez and Bessent was repeatedly moderated by Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE), who reminded members of cut-off dates and decorum throughout the hearing .

The second shortly unfold throughout social media, the place the White Home's official fast response account weighed in, calling the transfer "shameful."