US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launched a robust defence of President Donald Trump's health and cognitive fitness on Wednesday, while accusing a prominent journalist of applying a double standard to coverage of the Biden administration.
Fiery Exchange at DealBook Summit
The confrontation unfolded during an interview at the New York Times' DealBook Summit, held at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Bessent, a former investment banker, was questioned by the newspaper's columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin about persistent rumours regarding President Trump's cognitive state.
Bessent swiftly turned the tables, accusing the media outlet of ignoring what he termed a major scandal during the previous presidency. "You had what was one of the greatest scandals of all time—the cover-up of the Biden administration, Joe Biden's diminished capacity," Bessent stated. "Where was the New York Times?"
Cabinet Access and the 25th Amendment
The Treasury Secretary used a recent White House meeting to underscore his point about presidential accessibility. He revealed that a three-hour cabinet meeting had just taken place the day before the summit.
"For ten months, the Biden administration did not have a cabinet meeting," Bessent asserted. "How are you going to invoke the 25th Amendment if the cabinet secretaries never see the president?" He was referring to the constitutional process for removing a president deemed unfit for office.
Bessent further claimed that colleagues within the Treasury Building in Washington DC had told him he sees President Trump "more in a day than my predecessor saw Biden in half a year."
Context of Health Speculation
The heated interview followed a New York Times report last week which suggested President Trump's current schedule is less demanding than during his first term. Trump reacted angrily to that article, personally insulting a journalist and declaring he is in better health than ever.
Speculation about the President's wellbeing intensified after he underwent an MRI scan last month. Following questions from journalists about whether the scan was of his brain, the White House released its findings this week, declaring Trump to be in "excellent" health.
President Trump was diagnosed earlier this year with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a common circulatory condition that can cause swollen limbs. This diagnosis came after he was spotted with swollen ankles and a hand bruise. The White House maintains the condition is benign and typical for someone of his age.
The public clash at a premier financial summit highlights the deeply partisan nature of discussions surrounding the health and capacity of sitting US presidents, with accusations of media bias flying from the highest levels of government.
