Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared on "Squawk Box" Friday and quickly threw President Donald Trump's Commerce Secretary under the bus .
Ah, the Trump administration—where drama is as common as tweets at 3 AM. Recently, we witnessed a classic episode of ‘Throw Someone Under the Bus’ featuring Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. If you thought reality TV was high-stakes, wait until you see a cabinet meeting on a Friday morning!
So, what’s the scoop? Bessent appeared on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’—a show that sounds like it’s hosted by a bunch of chickens, but I digress. During his appearance, he decided to play a game of hot potato with Lutnick, pointing fingers at the Commerce Department for delays in labeling AI chip manufacturer Nvidia and its customer Megaspeed as potential national security threats. You know, just your typical Friday morning chat about national security and chips, nothing to see here!
Bessent made it clear that there was a lot of ‘coordination’ going on among various departments, including the Department of Defense and the State Department, all of whom were apparently ready to put Megaspeed on the infamous entity list. But guess what? The Commerce Department has the ‘pen.’ Yes, you heard that right. Apparently, a pen is all it takes to decide the fate of national security and international trade. Who knew?
When co-host Rebecca Quick asked Bessent if he was frustrated, he didn’t hold back. “Well, Becky, I am frustrated!” he exclaimed, sounding like a kid who just found out his ice cream truck ran out of popsicles. He elaborated that President Trump had made it crystal clear that China shouldn’t receive any Nvidia chips above a specific model—H-100s, to be precise. So, naturally, any leaks are a big deal. It’s like saying, “Don’t let the cat out of the bag,” and then finding out someone left the door wide open.
But wait, there’s more! Kernen, another co-host, asked if the Treasury would step in if Commerce continued to procrastinate. Bessent, with the grace of a seasoned politician, sidestepped the question and suggested that the Trade Commission would likely take the reins. Because why not pile on more bureaucratic layers when you can? It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while blindfolded.
And just when you thought we’d reached the climax, Bessent danced around the conversation regarding his discussions with Lutnick in the Situation Room. He wouldn’t confirm or deny anything, which is politician-speak for, “I’d rather not get caught in this mess.” He did mention that his department had been pushing for months, but hey, who’s counting?
When the conversation turned to the economy, Bessent assured everyone that everything was just peachy. “I’m quite confident that the economy is in very good shape,” he said, which is comforting to know as we all clutch our wallets a little tighter.
In conclusion, folks, this cabinet brawl is just another episode in the never-ending saga of the Trump administration. With Bessent throwing Lutnick under the bus (or should I say, the ‘Commerce Pen’), we can only sit back, grab some popcorn, and wait for the next thrilling episode of ‘As the Cabinet Turns.’ Who will be the next to get thrown under the bus? Stay tuned!
Inspired by: “Trump Cabinet brawl: Scott Bessent throws Howard Lutnick under the bus” (r/News)