Scott Bessent Savages WSJ After Bombshell Report on His Short Temper: ‘Shadow of Its Former Self’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tore into The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday night over its explosive investigation into his tenure at the Treasury Department, dismissing the newspaper as a “shadow of its former self” while flatly denying one of the report’s most eye-catching allegations.

On Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, host Laura Ingraham confronted Bessent about The Journal’s account, published hours earlier, which detailed staff turnover, clashes with senior officials, and allegations that the Treasury chief has repeatedly erupted at aides.

The newspaper reported that his behavior had contributed to the departure of several senior officials and cited more than a dozen current and former Treasury staffers.

“All right, you’ve apparently made The Wall Street Journal very angry. A piece today read like a TMZ article,” Ingraham said. “Apparently, you know, you have very high standards for your staff. They’re saying that you’re tough on your staff.”

Among other details, The Journal reported that Bessent regularly dressed down senior and junior employees and detailed one occasion when the cabinet member allegedly became so angry over the organization of his daily briefing materials that he threw a binder filled with papers at a wall. Ingraham pressed Bessent on the claim.

“Have you ever thrown a binder at a wall, Mr. Secretary?” the host asked.

“Absolutely not,” Bessent replied.

“That’s it?” Ingraham asked.

“Absolutely not,” the Treasury Secretary replied. “Look, The Wall Street Journal is a shadow of its former self. And I think it’s a disgrace for you to say that they’re like TMZ. TMZ does a good job of what they do.”

Ingraham responded that she too had high standards for her staff, adding: “But I always say suck it up, buttercup. Don’t be a powderpuff. You’re in the big leagues here.”

Bessent added that the story had relied too heavily on dissatisfied former staffers: “I’m tough but fair and the article – there were two disgruntled employees versus the 28 who told them that I’m a great employer,” he said.

He then defended the Treasury’s demanding culture, pointing to staff working extended hours amid the administration’s handling of Iran.

“We have people coming in at 6:00 [a.m.] and leaving at 10:00 [p.m.],” Bessent said. “I think with the president’s leadership, I’m trying to push the government to do what the private sector does and to do what everyday Americans do – come in, work hard, do your job and push the country forward.”

“You know, we only have four years, Laura,” he concluded.

Watch above via Fox News.

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