U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has pushed back against the media narrative surrounding the current government shutdown, telling ABC News that the American people are hostage to the poll numbers of Democratic leaders.
Host Martha Raddatz asked Bessent on ABC’s “This Week” program whether President Trump should meet with Democrats as federal workers are beginning to suffer under the shutdown.
Bessent responded, reminding Raddatz that Democratic leadership is dug in, telling her, “The American people are hostage to Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries’ poll numbers! 52 Republican senators have voted 11 times to reopen the government.”
🚨 BREAKING: ABC just tried to ‘gotcha’ Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent and he didn’t take ANY of her BS!
ABC: You’re over there. But here, there is a government shutdown. People are SUFFERING. Should Trump meet with Democrats?!
BESSENT: Well, what GOOD does it do, Martha?! They’ve… pic.twitter.com/4UOz0Di6L8
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 26, 2025