Bessent criticizes George Stephanopoulos for his previous ‘terrorists’ remark

Stephanopoulos and Treasury Secretary Bessent Spar over Shutdown Comments

On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent challenged ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos during an interview, addressing comments made about Republicans during the 1995 government shutdown.

During the segment on “This Week,” Stephanopoulos questioned Bessent about the Trump administration’s approach to the ongoing government shutdown. Bessent, recalling his experiences from the Clinton administration, noted Stephanopoulos’s past remarks about Republicans. “You were involved in a lot of this in the ’90s,” Bessent said. “You basically called Republicans terrorists, stating it wasn’t their duty to keep the government shut down. What we need now is five brave, moderate Democratic senators to step across the aisle. It’s 52-3 at the moment. Five Democrats could help us reopen the government. That’s the way forward, George.”

Stephanopoulos retorted, claiming he disagreed with Bessent’s version of history, but Bessent pressed, insisting he had evidence of Stephanopoulos’s past words. “If you want, I’ll put all your quotes here,” he stated, clearly frustrated.

Stephanopoulos maintained his original stance, labeling Bessent’s remarks as a “misrepresentation of history.” He recounted that, during a 2000 PBS interview, he reflected on what strategies both parties employed during that shutdown in the mid-’90s, mentioning that Democrats typically accused Republicans of “blackmailing the country.”

Bessent’s interruptions highlighted a back-and-forth where historical narratives clashed. He emphasized the pressure Democrats felt to argue Republicans were engaging in acts akin to terrorism to push their agenda. As the segment continued, the tension around the responsibility for the government shutdown grew palpable.

Republicans, at the time of that shutdown, were led by House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who held a significant majority.

In the midst of the confrontation, Stephanopoulos articulated that Democrats needed a strategy that didn’t compromise, highlighting their need to frame the GOP’s bargaining as a form of coercion.