Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged Wednesday that he threatened to “kick ass” during a heated confrontation last year, while firmly denying reports that he threatened to punch the now-acting Director of National Intelligence “in the face.”
The unusual exchange emerged during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, where Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) pressed Bessent about reports surrounding a confrontation between the two Trump administration officials during the summer of 2025.
According to Bessent, one key detail in the widely circulated account was inaccurate.
Seijah Drake was born in Boston, MA, where she developed a penchant for writing early on and a passion for politics in college. After college she worked briefly for a conservative media in New York before relocating to the Greater D.C. Area to pursue a career in political marketing. She now resides in the free state of Florida.
SHOALWATER BAY, Australia (July 25, 2017) Marines attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit drive an amphibious assault vehicle into the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) after participating in exercise Talisman Saber 2017. [Photo Credit: Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of AmericaMC1 Alexandra Seeley/U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]
⏱ 6 minute read
TUESDAY PDB – While any U.S. fight with China will be primarily an air and maritime campaign focused on the Navy-Marine Corps team battling across swaths of sea and many islands, with long-range strikes by Air Force bombers, the Army is adding its firepower to the mix as well.
US Army moves to pre-position materials in Pacific. The Army is hoping progress made at Talisman Sabre, the joint U.S.-Australian exercise this summer, could open doors for it to position more equipment in the Indo-Pacific region.
US Army relies on Pacific allies, exercises to sustain supply lines. Army commanders overseeing forces in the Indo-Pacific outlined their work with allies and partners in the region to sustain the supply lines that allow the service to maintain forces throughout the broad, diffuse area.
ARMY FORCES AND FIREPOWER ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO ANY FUTURE PACIFIC FIGHT.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
INFLUENCE CAMPAIGN TO SOW DOUBT ABOUT IRANIAN LINK – No evidence or proof: Israel and US uncertain of Iran link to Hamas attack. After brutal Hamas rampage of death erupted in Israel, some were quick to point fingers at one of the Palestinian militant group’s longtime allies. BECAUSE IRAN IS PRIMARY BACKER OF HAMAS.
NEEDS TO DO MUCH MORE – How prepared is Taiwan for a war with China? Dwarfed by China’s population and military strength, the self-ruled island has been improving training and stockpiling military equipment.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 594. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern group of forces, said troops were making headway in their four-month-old counteroffensive. “We are talking about hundreds of meters at a time that we are liberating from our enemies and strengthening our positions.
Paul Crespo is the Managing Editor of American Liberty Defense News. As a Marine Corps officer, he led Marines, served aboard ships in the Pacific and jumped from helicopters and airplanes. He was also a military attaché with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at U.S. embassies worldwide. He later ran for state and federal office, taught political science, wrote for the editorial board of a major newspaper and had his own radio show. A graduate of Georgetown, London and Cambridge universities, he brings decades of experience and insight to the issues that most threaten our American liberty – at home and from abroad. To read more go to: paulcrespo.com.
Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets, and an air defense system to
At American Liberty News, we eschew the mainstream media’s tightly controlled narrative to provide our readers with real news, real insights, and the means to take action. We seek out insightful coverage – and partner with knowledgeable and experienced people and organizations to bring you the information and insight our readers demand.
We humbly seek to provide the tools and information necessary for our readers to decide for themselves what is true and what is right.
US Army Shifting Forces To Vast Pacific To Face China
Treasury Secretary Clarifies Threat Against Bill Pulte
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged Wednesday that he threatened to “kick ass” during a heated confrontation last year, while firmly denying reports that he threatened to punch the now-acting Director of National Intelligence “in the face.”
The unusual exchange emerged during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, where Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) pressed Bessent about reports surrounding a confrontation between the two Trump administration officials during the summer of 2025.
According to Bessent, one key detail in the widely circulated account was inaccurate.
While he denied threatening.
Seijah Drake
Seijah Drake was born in Boston, MA, where she developed a penchant for writing early on and a passion for politics in college. After college she worked briefly for a conservative media in New York before relocating to the Greater D.C. Area to pursue a career in political marketing. She now resides in the free state of Florida.
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TUESDAY PDB – While any U.S. fight with China will be primarily an air and maritime campaign focused on the Navy-Marine Corps team battling across swaths of sea and many islands, with long-range strikes by Air Force bombers, the Army is adding its firepower to the mix as well.
US Army moves to pre-position materials in Pacific. The Army is hoping progress made at Talisman Sabre, the joint U.S.-Australian exercise this summer, could open doors for it to position more equipment in the Indo-Pacific region.
US Army relies on Pacific allies, exercises to sustain supply lines. Army commanders overseeing forces in the Indo-Pacific outlined their work with allies and partners in the region to sustain the supply lines that allow the service to maintain forces throughout the broad, diffuse area.
ARMY FORCES AND FIREPOWER ARE A WELCOME ADDITION TO ANY FUTURE PACIFIC FIGHT.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:
ATTACK ON ISRAEL
Israel declares Gaza siege as Hamas fires rockets and toll mounts. On the third day of fighting, Hamas was still launching rockets against Israel while its terrorists battled soldiers around the borders of the Gaza Strip.
Mitch McConnell: Four steps for the US to help Israel. Make munitions transfers, offer intelligence support, and impose costs on state sponsors of terrorism.
Zelensky compares assault by Hamas on Israel to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky, told a NATO meeting that “terror will have no allies” if the world unites against acts of aggression.
INFLUENCE CAMPAIGN TO SOW DOUBT ABOUT IRANIAN LINK – No evidence or proof: Israel and US uncertain of Iran link to Hamas attack. After brutal Hamas rampage of death erupted in Israel, some were quick to point fingers at one of the Palestinian militant group’s longtime allies. BECAUSE IRAN IS PRIMARY BACKER OF HAMAS.
HOMELAND SECURITY – LAW ENFORCEMENT
IN FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES – Mother, child hid behind stroller during deadly subway chokehold: court papers. The details were disclosed publicly for the first time in a motion to dismiss the charges against Marine veteran Daniel Penny, who’s accused of choking Neely to death to protect other passengers.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
WHO EVEN THOUGHT OF THIS?! – San Diego Marine base ‘not suitable’ for homeless camp, colonel says. World War II-era live-fire ranges contain unexploded ordnance, and current live-fire training nearby would pose its own risks, the base commander said.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Biden meets with DOJ special counsel Robert Hur about classified documents found at his home. The investigation ran parallel to charges leveled against Donald Trump for allegedly retaining national defense documents after leaving the White House in 2021, but unlike Trump, Biden has cooperated in his probe.
CHINA THREAT
NEEDS TO DO MUCH MORE – How prepared is Taiwan for a war with China? Dwarfed by China’s population and military strength, the self-ruled island has been improving training and stockpiling military equipment.
TIME TO RECONSIDER IDIOTIC CHINA TIES – Israel expected ‘stronger condemnation’ of Hamas from China, Israel’s Beijing embassy official says. “When people are being murdered, slaughtered in the streets, this is not the time to call for a two-state solution,” Yuval Waks, a senior official at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, told reporters.
RUSSIA THREAT– UKRAINE WAR
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 594. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern group of forces, said troops were making headway in their four-month-old counteroffensive. “We are talking about hundreds of meters at a time that we are liberating from our enemies and strengthening our positions.
Russia faces a tough fight to regain its seat in the UN’s top human rights body. Tuesday’s election in the General Assembly, which voted last year to suspend Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine, won’t be easy for Russia.
IRAN THREAT
Top US general warns Iran to stay out of Israel’s conflict with Hamas. CQ Brown says Washington hopes to send a ‘strong message’ to Tehran and others in the region.
BIDEN STRIKES AGAIN – Israel-Hamas war reveals challenges to US pullback in Middle East. Last fall, Joe Biden’s National Security Strategy made clear that a reduced role for the U.S. military in the Middle East was in store.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
North Korea says military satellite key to countering US ‘space militarization.’ North Korea’s spy satellite program is an “indispensable” measure to counter U.S. space militarization aimed at beefing up the American’s preemptive nuclear strike capability and securing “world supremacy,” state media said.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Military intervention in Niger unlikely, says Ghana’s top Army officer. A West African union is considering diplomatic options in response to the July coup in Niger that ousted democratically elected, the head of Ghana’s Army Staff said.
US MILITARY
Exclusive: The inside story of how the Army rethought recruiting. The Army’s top civilian explained how the decisions were made and offered new details about the changes.
Change of plans: US Army embraces lessons learned from war in Ukraine. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Army has carefully taken note of these trends.
US Army developing integrated formations of robots and humans. The Army is using years’ worth of experimentation with robots and emerging technology to develop these integrated fighting formations.
The Army’s new chief has a plan and it’s all about warfighting. Gen. Randy George begins his tenure leading the Army as it faces a period of rapid change, competition with adversaries across the globe and a strained force.
Army divisions are headed into the dirt. Division staff and the units that support brigade operations will be getting dirty.
END of PDB
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
READ NEXT: Unknown Number Of Americans Taken Hostage By Hamas, Biden Confirms
Paul Crespo
Paul Crespo is the Managing Editor of American Liberty Defense News. As a Marine Corps officer, he led Marines, served aboard ships in the Pacific and jumped from helicopters and airplanes. He was also a military attaché with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at U.S. embassies worldwide. He later ran for state and federal office, taught political science, wrote for the editorial board of a major newspaper and had his own radio show. A graduate of Georgetown, London and Cambridge universities, he brings decades of experience and insight to the issues that most threaten our American liberty – at home and from abroad. To read more go to: paulcrespo.com.
Treasury Secretary Clarifies Threat Against Bill Pulte
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We humbly seek to provide the tools and information necessary for our readers to decide for themselves what is true and what is right.
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