Treasury secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday quipped that his predecessors have historically dueled after reports that he threatened to punch Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte and had a verbal confrontation that turned into a scuffle with billionaire Elon Musk.
“Treasury secretaries dating back to Alexander Hamilton have a history of dueling. I think with the president’s team— I turned out a little better for the Treasury’s side this time,” Bessent said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
“With President Trump’s team, just like any of the great sports team, you can argue in the locker room, but we get out in the field and do the best for the president and the American people every day,” he added.
Bessent threatened to punch Pulte during a heated confrontation at a private dinner attended by administration officials and close advisers to Trump earlier this month, Politico reported.
“Why the f‑‑‑ are you talking to the president about me? F‑‑‑ you,” Bessent said to Pulte, who looked stunned, according to the report. “I’m gonna punch you in your f‑‑‑ing face.”
When asking about the altercations, CNBC’s Joe Kernen commented on Bessent’s height, adding, “If I was going to mess with someone, it wouldn’t be you.” He asked the secretary to confirm the fight report and said, “I don’t want you to get mad at me for asking this because I’m scared of you too.”
“My money in a three-way fight is on Becky, always,” Bessent later said, quipping about betting on CNBC host Becky Quick over Kernen and Andrew Ross Sorkin on “Squawk Box.”
Earlier this year, Trump ally Steve Bannon told The Washington Post Bessent called Musk “a total fraud” in a heated confrontation about the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts to cut government spending. According to Bannon, Musk rammed his shoulder into the Treasury chief’s rib cage and Bessent hit him back.
