A routine House Ways and Means Committee hearing on U.S. trade policy erupted in tension Wednesday when Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) accused Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of interrupting her because of her gender—prompting groans from the chamber and sparking swift reaction online.
The exchange unfolded during Sanchez’s five-minute questioning window, as she challenged Bessent over the Trump administration’s tariff policies and their impact on American households.
“Prices are rising on many everyday goods,” Sanchez said, citing hikes in clothing, shoes, canned foods, toys, and tools. “On average, Trump’s tariffs are estimated to cost households $3,000 more for the same goods than they would have last year,” she asserted, though she did not provide a source when asked.
As Bessent attempted to respond, Sanchez sharply interjected:
“Please don’t interrupt me… I know I’m a woman, but please try to limit yourself to answering my questions.”
The remark triggered audible groans from the audience, with one person heard saying, “Oh, come on.” Sanchez defended her statement, adding, “No, I’m sorry, but we get talked over all the time, and I don’t want that to happen at this hearing.”
Bessent, who is openly gay, did not address the accusation directly. Instead, he focused on defending the Trump administration’s trade agenda.
“That’s incorrect,” Bessent responded to Sanchez’s claim, adding:
“They [China] met their agreements under President Trump in 2020, and President Biden did not enforce them.”
Sanchez accused the administration of pushing a “rushed” trade deal with China, referencing President Trump’s remarks that an agreement had been reached after just two days of talks in London. “A poorly negotiated trade deal with China is probably not worth the paper that it is written on,” she said.
Bessent countered that the agreement was only an initial step in a longer strategy.
“The deal struck was for a specific goal, and it will be a much longer process,” he stated. “China has proven an unreliable partner.”
Committee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) was forced to intervene multiple times, reminding lawmakers to adhere to time limits and maintain decorum.
The exchange quickly gained traction on social media, with the White House’s rapid response team calling Sanchez’s conduct “shameful.”
With input from Fox News
