Republican lawmakers expressed frustration on Wednesday toward California Rep. Linda Sanchez after she accused Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent of interrupting her due to her gender.
During a session of the House Ways and Means Committee, Sanchez took issue with Bescent’s remarks regarding President Donald Trump’s tariffs, claiming he was speaking inconsistently by noting that prices had already increased. When Bescent attempted to clarify his point, Sanchez interrupted him, insisting that he shouldn’t address her while she was questioning him.
“Don’t interrupt me. This is my time. I’ll allow you to respond, but don’t cut in during my time,” Sanchez stated. “I know I’m a woman, but please keep your answers focused on my questions.”
Several lawmakers were heard murmuring in response to her comments about being a woman.
“We’re having a discussion here, but we don’t want interruptions during this hearing,” Sanchez added.
Meanwhile, inflation rates showed a smaller-than-expected increase in May. Analysts described this as a positive sign for the U.S. economy, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising by 0.2% in April and just 0.1% in May, according to the Labor Statistics Bureau.
Bescent countered Sanchez’s claims, asserting that the U.S. would assess whether China remains a “good trading partner.” His remarks followed his recent trip to London, where he engaged in trade discussions with China under Trump’s tariff framework.
Trump labeled the trade deal with China as “complete” in a post on True Social, stating that the U.S. would retain a 55% tariff on Chinese imports while China would apply a 10% tariff on American products. He initially increased China’s tariffs from 104% to 145% on April 10.
