Politics
WATCH: Democrat Rep. Plays The Gender Card Against Trump’s Treasury Secretary—Instantly Backfires
Tempers flared during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing this week when Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) clashed with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods. The testy exchange took a dramatic turn when Sanchez accused Bessent of interrupting her and invoked her gender during the heated back-and-forth.
The confrontation began when Rep. Sanchez pressed Bessent on whether the tariffs would result in a one-time price hike or sustained inflation for American families. “Mr. Secretary, do you still believe that the president’s tariffs are going to be a one-time price adjustment for American families?” she asked.
Bessent responded, “If prices go up, they will be one time.”
But Sanchez immediately accused him of contradicting himself. “Okay. Well, unfortunately, you appear to be talking out of both sides of your mouth because you yourself have admitted, after conversations with Walmart, that some tariff costs are going to get passed on to consumers,” she said, adding, “In fact, we’ve already seen that prices are rising on many everyday goods.”
Bessent interjected, “No, Congresswoman, today we had a 1.1 increase,” referring to the most recent inflation data.
That’s when the tone shifted.
“Please don’t interrupt me. The time is mine. The time is mine. Please don’t interrupt me,” Sanchez snapped. “I will ask you questions and I will grant you an opportunity to answer them, but please don’t interrupt me during my time. Okay? I know I’m a woman, but please try to limit yourself to answering my questions.”
WATCH:
The moment immediately drew reactions from Republicans in the room, with some audibly groaning as Sanchez appeared to suggest her gender was a factor in the interruption, despite committee protocol often allowing for exchanges between members and witnesses.
She then claimed that tariffs were costing Americans an additional $3,000 per year, though Bessent quickly disputed the figure. “I’m sorry, that’s incorrect, and I’m not sure who estimated it,” he replied.
Sanchez insisted, “That is not incorrect. The best estimates are that consumers will pay $3,000 more for the same goods that they did last year.”
Bessent pressed again, “That estimate is from whom, Congresswoman?”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation in May rose just 0.1% from the previous month, signaling continued moderation in price pressures and falling below analysts’ expectations. Year-over-year, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 2.4%, while core inflation, which excludes food and energy, held steady at 2.8%.
Shelter costs remained the primary driver, rising 0.3% for the month, while energy prices dropped, led by a 2.6% decline in gasoline. Prices for goods like vehicles, clothing, and appliances also declined or remained flat, easing concerns that Trump-era tariffs would immediately spike costs for consumers.
The modest inflation reading has markets increasingly confident the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates by September, with some analysts even eyeing July. Stocks and bonds responded positively, and the U.S. dollar weakened slightly on the news. While the data points to cooling inflation, analysts warn that tariff impacts could still emerge later this year.
Overall, the latest report strengthens the case for rate cuts, offering the Fed more flexibility amid a stable labor market and easing consumer price pressures—though shelter inflation and geopolitical risks still pose potential hurdles ahead.
