Treasury Sec’y DESTROYS NBC Host Live On-Air

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a crushing blow to mainstream media narratives by rejecting NBC’s attempt to blame President Trump for the ongoing government shutdown, exposing the left’s desperate efforts to shield Senate Democrats from accountability.

Story Highlights

Bessent directly challenged NBC host’s premise that Trump must negotiate with Democrats to end shutdown
Government shutdown reaches 26 days while Trump conducts diplomatic missions in Asia
Democrats blocking clean continuing resolution they previously supported under Biden
Federal workers union breaks ranks, urges Democrats to abandon shutdown strategy
Military troops face missed paychecks by November 15th if impasse continues

Bessent Destroys Media Narrative on Live Television

During his October 26, 2025 appearance on “Meet the Press,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a masterclass in rejecting liberal media framing. When NBC host Kristen Welker asked when President Trump would meet with Democrats to end the shutdown, Bessent responded decisively: “Kristen, I’m going to have to reject the premise of your question. Why does President Trump have to meet with Democrats? Democrats just need to go into the Senate and vote to end the shutdown.” This direct pushback exposed the media’s coordinated effort to shift blame away from obstructionist Senate Democrats.

Democrats Block Clean Resolution They Previously Supported

The core of this manufactured crisis reveals typical Democratic hypocrisy. Senate Democrats are refusing to pass a seven-week clean continuing resolution that would fund the government at Biden-era spending levels—the same type of measure Senator Chuck Schumer supported just months earlier in March 2025. Republicans have offered a straightforward solution with no poison pills or conservative initiatives attached, yet Democrats demand an additional $1.5 trillion for programs including illegal alien healthcare and NPR funding. This represents classic Washington extortion tactics where Democrats create artificial crises to extract taxpayer money for their radical agenda.

Federal Workers Union Abandons Democratic Strategy

Even traditionally Democratic-aligned labor unions recognize the futility of this political theater. On October 28, 2025, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) urged Democrats to pass a clean continuing resolution without Republican concessions. AFGE President Everett Kelley stated: “Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight. It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today.” This represents a significant fracture in the labor-Democratic alliance, as even unions that regularly oppose Trump policies prioritize worker welfare over political posturing.

Economic Consequences Mount While Trump Leads Internationally

The 26-day shutdown demonstrates the stark contrast between effective leadership and Democratic obstruction. While Senate Democrats play politics in Washington, President Trump continues conducting crucial diplomatic missions in Asia, embodying what the administration calls “America’s Peace Time President.” Bessent warned that the shutdown is affecting the economy and military troops will miss paychecks by November 15th. Republicans have introduced numerous bills to ensure federal workers and service members receive pay, but Democrats have rejected these common-sense measures. This reveals Democrats’ willingness to harm working Americans and military families to advance their spending priorities.

The administration’s refusal to engage in traditional shutdown negotiations represents a strategic shift away from Washington’s usual capitulation to Democratic demands. By maintaining focus on international diplomacy while exposing Democratic responsibility for the shutdown, Trump demonstrates principled leadership that puts America’s global interests above domestic political theater. This approach challenges the establishment playbook where presidents typically compromise their principles to appease obstructionist legislators.