Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent caused a stir in the White House briefing room on Wednesday when he mistakenly referred to the Strait of Hormuz as the “Straits of Vermouth”. The gaffe came as he was fielding questions about when petrol prices might fall from record highs amid the ongoing US conflict with Iran.
Bessent, speaking in support of the administration’s tax bill, said the future of fuel prices would depend on negotiations. He noted that President Donald Trump believed the six-week-old war was nearly over, adding: “The Straits of Vermouth have not been completely reopened, so we will see.” The waterway he intended to name is the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil shipments that Iran has used to disrupt tanker traffic.
The Democratic National Committee quickly seized on the slip, posting a video of Bessent alongside a photo of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth with the caption: “Vermouth?” The post was widely seen as a double jab, referring both to Bessent’s error and to Hegseth’s well-documented history with alcohol.
During Hegseth’s confirmation process, reports emerged that colleagues at Fox News had expressed concern about his drinking, with some saying they smelled alcohol on his breath before he went on air. A whistleblower at a previous employer also alleged he was frequently intoxicated at work, sometimes requiring assistance to leave events.
The incident has reignited scrutiny of the two officials as the administration continues to face questions over the economic and military consequences of its Iran policy.
