In an interview with Tucker Carlson, Secretary Scott Bessent discussed several key policy issues impacting the United States under President Trump's administration. Bessent delved into topics such as tariffs, manufacturing, national security, China's economy, tax policy, energy, the Ukraine situation, and U.S. dollar policy.
Reflecting on previous predictions about the China tariffs, Bessent noted: "Working-class Americans—hourly workers—did better than supervisory workers. The bottom 50% of households—their net worth increased faster than the top 10% of households."
On manufacturing, Bessent emphasized the need for companies to relocate their factories to the U.S., stating, "Bring your factory here ... That’s the best solution for getting away from a tariff wall."
Bessent also discussed the national security implications of the current economic landscape, highlighting the deficiencies revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic: "These highly efficient supply chains were not strategically secure. We don't make our own medicines. We don't make our own semiconductors. We don't make our own ships anymore."
Regarding China, Bessent characterized its economy as fundamentally unbalanced and noted ongoing challenges: "They’re trying to export their way out of it. And we can’t let them do that."
The administration's tax bill plans aim to support lower-income Americans. Bessent articulated the goals, saying, "They are the ones who will benefit from all four of those programs."
Discussing energy, he mentioned working closely with Secretaries Burgum and Wright, adding, "We’re working on getting the regulations down."
Bessent also touched on the situation with Ukraine, expressing optimism about future cooperation: "I’m hopeful we can get it signed and return to a win-win."
On the topic of the U.S. dollar, Bessent asserted the administration's authority over dollar policy, emphasizing a strong dollar stance: "We have a strong dollar policy. And we’re putting in all the ingredients to make sure the dollar is strong over the long run."
The interview covered a wide array of topics, reflecting the administration's multifaceted approach to tackling domestic and international challenges.
