Rep. Sanchez accuses Treasury Secretary Bessent of gender-based interruption
A House Ways and Means Committee hearing took a surprising turn on Wednesday when Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) accused Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of interrupting her because of her gender. The exchange occurred during a tense questioning session where Sanchez challenged Bessent on the impact of tariffs enacted under President Trump’s administration.
Sanchez pointed out that prices are rising on everyday goods, such as clothing, shoes, canned food, toys, and household tools. She stated that Trump’s tariffs are estimated to cost households an additional $3,000 for the same goods compared to last year. However, she did not provide a source for this figure when pressed.
When Bessent tried to interject, Sanchez quickly shut him down, saying, “Please don’t interrupt me… I know I’m a woman, but please try to limit yourself to answering my questions.” This remark elicited audible groans from the room, with one attendee expressing, “Oh, come on.” Sanchez defended her stance by stating that women are often talked over and she did not want that to happen during the hearing.
Bessent, who is openly gay, did not address the accusation and focused on defending the administration’s trade policies. When Sanchez challenged him on pricing impacts and China’s trade behavior, Bessent refuted her claims by stating that China had met its agreements under President Trump and that President Biden had not enforced them.
Sanchez continued to argue that American consumers are paying more due to tariffs and criticized the rushed and opaque nature of recent negotiations with China. She expressed concerns about the reliability of China as a trade partner and questioned the effectiveness of the trade deal struck with the country.
Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) repeatedly intervened to moderate the clash between Sanchez and Bessent, reminding members of time limits and decorum throughout the hearing. The exchange between the two lawmakers quickly gained traction on social media, with the White House’s official rapid response account labeling Sanchez’s accusation as “shameful.”
The office of Congresswoman Linda Sanchez has not yet responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter. Jasmine, a writer at Fox News Digital and a military spouse based in New Orleans, can be reached at jasmine.baehr@fox.com for story submissions and inquiries.
