Rep. Maxine Waters and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had a fiery exchange on Wednesday. The clash happened during a House Financial Services Committee hearing in Washington. Waters aggressively questioned Bessent about the impact of President Trump's tariff policies.
The California congresswoman demanded a yes-or-no answer regarding the administration's "war on American consumers." When Bessent attempted to cite a Wharton University study, Waters repeatedly shouted, "Reclaiming my time." The tension peaked when she asked the chairman if someone could "shut him up."
Bessent fired back by asking the congresswoman to "maintain some level of dignity." He attempted to pivot the conversation toward how immigration levels affect the housing stock for working Americans. Chairman French Hill eventually ended the exchange by noting that Waters’ time had expired.
The hearing comes at a critical moment for the administration's economic agenda. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing whether certain 2025 trade duties exceeded presidential authority. A ruling against the administration could significantly hamper future tariff strategies.
Waters maintains that these taxes on imported goods are hurting housing affordability and putting the economy at risk. Bessent argued that the administration's broader policies are necessary to protect American industries. The room remained tense as other committee members continued the line of questioning.