In a dramatic confrontation, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launched a fierce attack on The New York Times, accusing the publication of biased reporting during the paper's own DealBook Summit in New York City on Wednesday.
A Heated Onstage Exchange
During an onstage conversation with Times journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin, Bessent delivered a scathing critique. He asserted that the newspaper was losing its credibility and made a bold prediction about its future. "You know, in 20, 30, 40, 50 years, the New York Times is no longer the paper of record," Bessent stated, as reported by Mediaite. He went further, labeling the publication a "fever swamp" and revealing that he no longer reads it himself.
The secretary's outburst was a direct response to a recent Times report concerning the health and schedule of former President Donald Trump, who is 79. The article described Trump as having "shorter public days," later starts, and appearing fatigued in meetings. It also noted he holds fewer public events than during his first year in office and travels more slowly domestically, citing instances where his eyes "drooped."
Bessent dismissed these claims as completely fabricated. "I read this article, like 'President Trump is slowing down. President Trump’s mental capacity –' It is a hundred percent fake," he argued. He sarcastically countered, "Like he only called me twice at 2 in the morning last week instead of three times."
Broadening the Critique to Biden Era
Bessent expanded his criticism to include the newspaper's coverage of President Joe Biden. He alleged a major "cover-up" of Biden's condition, calling it "one of the greatest scandals of all time." When Sorkin suggested that raising questions about Trump's health was "probably fair," Bessent strongly rejected the comparison.
He pointed to a recent three-hour Cabinet meeting as evidence of Trump's engagement and accused the Times of ignoring the administration's work pace. "Where was the New York Times? We just had a three-hour cabinet meeting yesterday, Andrew!" he exclaimed. He also questioned how cabinet members could assess Biden's fitness if they seldom met with him.
Context and Aftermath
This fiery exchange occurred against the backdrop of the Times reporting strong business performance, with over 12 million subscribers and nearly half a million new digital-only additions last quarter.
Later, on Fox News, Bessent elaborated on his stance. He said he felt compelled to fact-check Sorkin because such reporting distorts public perception. "As I got there he immediately went into attack and I just couldn’t take the hypocrisy of it all," Bessent explained. He expressed concern that inaccurate reporting would prevent people from forming a correct view of a potential "great second Trump presidency."
The incident highlights the deepening rift between certain Trump administration figures and mainstream media outlets, centering on claims of partisan bias in political coverage.
