CNBC’s Joe Kernen Confronts Scott Bessent on Trump’s Press Ban: ‘We Don’t Do This in This Country’

CNBC’s Squawk Box co-host Joe Kernen confronted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over President Donald Trump’s ban on three major news organizations from the White House on Monday, bluntly warning the cabinet member: “We don’t do this in this country.”

Kernen, often perceived as sympathetic to the president, raised the issue as CNN, MS NOW, and Politico moved to sue the Trump administration after journalists from all three outlets had their White House credentials revoked over the weekend.

Trump announced Friday that organizations were barred from the White House, accusing the outlets of publishing “FAKE NEWS” and threatening that other organizations could follow. Reporters for the three organizations were subsequently denied entry and had their credentials deactivated.

The organizations filed a lawsuit on Monday asking a federal court in Washington to restore their access, arguing that the administration violated their First Amendment rights.

“One of the things that sets the United States apart, I think, is that our leaders have to answer difficult questions, sometimes even hostile questions,” Kernen told Bessent as he closed out an interview on Monday. “And we see the alternative, and it’s a badge of honor. I watch you answer hostile questions, and I think that’s when you’re in your element. How is this going to play out with this ban? And what do you think of it?”

Bessent initially said he had been traveling and knew little about the dispute.

“But in general, do you think –?” Kernen pressed.

The Treasury Secretary then pointed to what he described as widespread distrust of traditional news organizations.

Bessent argued that “the equilibrium is so far out of kilter” because of perceived media bias, noting that the media was “less popular than the U.S. Congress.”

He continued: “The American people deserve good reporting. I couldn’t agree more. But you know, we’ll see where-”

Kernen quickly interrupted: “Stop! Stop the presses! All the different presidents, and I will grant you that I think maybe Republican presidents historically have had maybe a tougher time with mainstream media, but you’ve got Fox News that has been all over Democratic presidents. I just don’t think this is something that will last in this country. We don’t do this in this country.”

Bessent contested that Trump “has been the most transparent president in history.”

Kernen acknowledged Trump’s longstanding complaints about his coverage, but noted he appeared to enjoy jousting with journalists, suggested the administration needed a way out of the escalating dispute.

“I understand, believe me, that he feels that he has been unfairly treated by the media, and I think he finally got to a point where sometimes he just says, ‘OK, enough,’” Kernen said, adding: “But I think there’s got to be an off-ramp that the administration is looking for.

When Bessent criticized reporters for asking “some crazy question” at times that the administration was trying to promote an initiative, Kernen pushed back again.

“I know you have said that you’re here for policy. You don’t want any palace drama. And you’ve called ‘swamp creatures.’ And I understand all that,” he said. “But that’s the way. You can’t control the press, right? The press is going to press, media is going to media.”

Bessent then argued that “the press cares more about the press than anything else” and complained that during the assassination attempt at White House Correspondents’ Dinner and Trump’s secret plane switch from Air Force One in Turkey, which left staffers and press members on the plane subject to alleged attack threats, that the media was concerned with the safety of journalists rather than the president.

He concluded by saying he hoped that there would be a path to “fair and balanced” coverage of the administration.

Watch above via CNBC.

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