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.
110505-N-BM466-001
PHUKET BAY, Thailand (May 5, 2011) Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Ross Myrehn, from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., mans a .50-caliber machine gun as the guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) departs Phuket Bay, Thailand. Preble is on a routine deployment with the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd class Kristopher Regan/Released)
⏱ 8 minute read
TUESDAY PDB – The Iran-backed Houthis continue to strike at ships in the Red Sea costing the U.S. at least a billion dollars so far in weapons to defeat them. Yet, Joe Biden ignores, and rewards, Iran while wasting valuable U.S. resources in a tit-for-tat game with Houthis.
U.S. Department of Defense Current PhotosBrenton Poyser/Navy Media Content Services, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
WHY? TEAM BIDEN IS COMPROMISED BY IRAN.
Defense Innovation Unit seeks systems to counter Red Sea drone attacks. As Iran-backed Houthi rebel groups continue to use attack drones to target ships in the Red Sea, the U.S. Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit are partnering to prototype a counter uncrewed aircraft system that can disable or shoot them down.
Defending against Houthi missiles at lower cost. Houthi attacks against commercial shipping and U.S. warships have yet to cease. US and UK forces have launched numerous attacks against Houthi installations, all to no avail. Despite the strikes, the Yemeni rebel group’s operations do not appear to have diminished. Moreover, the Houthis continue to receive Iranian equipment, spare parts and trainers. (RELATED: Hezbollah Flags, Terrorist Endorsements Infiltrating Campus Protests)
Ibrahem Qasim, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
THE SOURCE IS IRAN! – US Treasury imposes new sanctions to cut off weapons to Houthis in Yemen. They are aimed at cutting off weapons, supplies and funding to the Iranian-backed Houthis, who control much of Yemen and have been striking commercial ships in the Red Sea to supposedly show support for Palestinians in Gaza.
GO TO THE SOURCE – IRAN!
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
MESSAGE TO BIDEN – Try this one simple trick to lose a war. Granting the enemy a safe haven to regroup, resupply and prepare for new attacks is a sure way not to win.
Ukraine’s naval drone success holds a huge lesson for the US Navy. Ukraine is defeating Russia in the Black Sea without a navy. The Pentagon needs to catch up, fast.
Now is NOT the time for a new cyber service. Lt. Gen. Charlie “Tuna” Moore (Ret.), former deputy commander of Cyber Command, weighs in on options to address digital threats.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
WRONG – Reservist in Maine shooting was a “low threat” after hospital release. A lieutenant colonel with the Army Reserves told an investigatory panel on Monday that a reservist who committed the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history had a low threat profile when he left a psychiatric hospital prior to the killings.
Robot craze in Ukraine war shines light on their drawbacks. Despite the notable lineup and exploits of crude ground robots seen whizzing over the battlefield in Ukraine, experts say deploying them in combat remains a costly affair in terms of labor and their vulnerabilities.
Inside the Chechen units helping to fight Russia’s war. A hulking military transport plane roared onto the tarmac at the main airfield in Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic in southeastern Russia, and a group of 120 volunteer fighters heading for Ukraine clambered aboard.
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.
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.
Biden Rewards Iran As Houthi Attacks Cost US Navy A Billion Dollars
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.
GOP-Led House Approves Iran War Powers Resolution In Rebuke To Trump
Six Thousand Complaints, 27 Investigations: The Federal Whistleblower Shield Exposed
California Tech CEO Arrested For Allegedly Supplying US Equipment To Iran’s Nuclear Program
Ohio Supreme Court Decision Could Affect Thousands Seeking Firearm Rights
TUESDAY PDB – The Iran-backed Houthis continue to strike at ships in the Red Sea costing the U.S. at least a billion dollars so far in weapons to defeat them. Yet, Joe Biden ignores, and rewards, Iran while wasting valuable U.S. resources in a tit-for-tat game with Houthis.
US Has Spent $1B Defending Against Houthi Attacks But Militants’ Arsenal Unfazed: Intel. Thanks to Iranian support: “Houthi stockpiles appear nowhere near exhausted, even as sporadic US and UK strikes against them continue.” (RELATED: Admiral Downplayed Threat, But Houthis Sever Undersea Cables)
WHY? TEAM BIDEN IS COMPROMISED BY IRAN.
Defense Innovation Unit seeks systems to counter Red Sea drone attacks. As Iran-backed Houthi rebel groups continue to use attack drones to target ships in the Red Sea, the U.S. Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit are partnering to prototype a counter uncrewed aircraft system that can disable or shoot them down.
Defending against Houthi missiles at lower cost. Houthi attacks against commercial shipping and U.S. warships have yet to cease. US and UK forces have launched numerous attacks against Houthi installations, all to no avail. Despite the strikes, the Yemeni rebel group’s operations do not appear to have diminished. Moreover, the Houthis continue to receive Iranian equipment, spare parts and trainers. (RELATED: Hezbollah Flags, Terrorist Endorsements Infiltrating Campus Protests)
THE SOURCE IS IRAN! – US Treasury imposes new sanctions to cut off weapons to Houthis in Yemen. They are aimed at cutting off weapons, supplies and funding to the Iranian-backed Houthis, who control much of Yemen and have been striking commercial ships in the Red Sea to supposedly show support for Palestinians in Gaza.
GO TO THE SOURCE – IRAN!
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:
NATIONAL SECURITY
TOTAL BIDEN HORSES**T – AS RUSSIAN WARSHIPS VISIT HAVANA – Little fanfare as US upgrades Cuba to ‘fully cooperating’ with anti-terror efforts. But the mid-May move may presage wider rapprochement – if politics allows. (RELATED: China’s Cuba Spy Base A Slap In The Face At Biden’s Friendly Overtures)
Russian warships leave Havana’s port after a 5-day visit to Cuba. A fleet of Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, left Havana’s port Monday after a five-day visit to Cuba following planned military drills in the Atlantic Ocean.
MESSAGE TO BIDEN – Try this one simple trick to lose a war. Granting the enemy a safe haven to regroup, resupply and prepare for new attacks is a sure way not to win.
Ukraine’s naval drone success holds a huge lesson for the US Navy. Ukraine is defeating Russia in the Black Sea without a navy. The Pentagon needs to catch up, fast.
Now is NOT the time for a new cyber service. Lt. Gen. Charlie “Tuna” Moore (Ret.), former deputy commander of Cyber Command, weighs in on options to address digital threats.
HOMELAND SECURITY
DRUGS, THANKS TO BIDEN AND NEWSOM – California Guard doubles troop numbers for drug interdiction mission. The troops to be deployed statewide to combat the spread of illegal drugs, including at ports of entry along the southern border. (RELATED: Secret Service Agent Robbed During Biden’s LA Fundraiser Highlights Rising Crime In California)
WRONG – Reservist in Maine shooting was a “low threat” after hospital release. A lieutenant colonel with the Army Reserves told an investigatory panel on Monday that a reservist who committed the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history had a low threat profile when he left a psychiatric hospital prior to the killings.
POLITICS
GOOD. IT IS A STUPID BIDEN BOONDOGGLE – Lawmakers move to defund US military’s Gaza aid pier after torrent of problems. Amid being battered by rough seas and weathering international logistical headaches, the U.S. military’s humanitarian aid pier in Gaza is facing another obstacle: Congress.
Key Democrats approve major arms sale to Israel, including F-15s. Under pressure from the Biden administration, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) approved the multibillion-dollar sale despite leftist pressure over war in Gaza. (RELATED: Message To Liberal Activists: Palestinian Society Hates You)
Psaki agrees to sit for interview with House panel probing Afghanistan withdrawal. Former White House press secretary and current MSNBC host Jen Psaki has agreed to be interviewed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
‘TRAUMA’ – LOL! – US neighbors brace for Trump second term after trauma of first. Late last year, Joe Biden’s administration was facing a border problem — and it wasn’t just on America’s frontier with Mexico.
ISRAEL WAR AGAINST TERROR
Israel revives trebuchet, a catapult variant forces are using at border. Israeli military mission to uncover Hezbollah combat positions and hidden cross-border routes has brought an ancient technology back to life.
Harris meets with former Israeli hostage who described being sexually assaulted in Gaza. Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday met with an Israeli lawyer who has publicly described being sexually assaulted while held hostage in Gaza, and said the story left her fearing more such accounts “will only increase as more hostages are released.” (RELATED: Free Palestine Protesters Disrupt Pride Parade)
US POWER OVERSEAS
US Super Hercules carry Japanese paratroopers during Valiant Shield drills. Propellers whirled as Japanese paratroopers and American special operations airmen loaded onto three C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifters Saturday at this airlift hub in western Tokyo.
US sinks ship in Valiant Shield live fire exercise. This, while 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) conducted drills with a French warship in the Philippine Sea. (RELATED: US And Philippines Marines Join Forces To Defend Against China)
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Robot craze in Ukraine war shines light on their drawbacks. Despite the notable lineup and exploits of crude ground robots seen whizzing over the battlefield in Ukraine, experts say deploying them in combat remains a costly affair in terms of labor and their vulnerabilities.
Blast shelters and drone jamming: A Russian city adapts to war. While in Moscow the fighting feels far away, residents of Belgorod, 25 miles from the border with Ukraine, have learned to duck for cover when the sirens wail.
Latvia-led drone coalition for Ukraine gains more funding, members. The international coalition to supply drones to Ukraine has received almost $600 million in commitments from Western allies, with Italy and France being the latest countries to join the alliance. (RELATED: Ukraine Blames Russia For ‘False Flag’ Drone Strike On Nuke Plant)
Inside the Chechen units helping to fight Russia’s war. A hulking military transport plane roared onto the tarmac at the main airfield in Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic in southeastern Russia, and a group of 120 volunteer fighters heading for Ukraine clambered aboard.
LGBTQ soldiers in Ukraine hope their service is changing attitudes as they rally for legal rights. Several hundred LGBTQ Ukrainian servicemen and their supporters marched in central Kyiv Sunday to demand more rights and highlight their service to their country in its war with Russia.
CHINA THREAT
THIS MAY SPARK WWIII – US blasts ‘aggressive’ China over South China Sea collision with Philippine ship. This, the latest in a series of increasingly fraught confrontations that have raised the potential of a flashpoint for global conflict in the vital waterway. (RELATED: China Plans To Beat US With Manned Moon Base, But Makes Big Error)
NORTH KOREA THREAT
North Korea has lost ‘many’ troops to mines in DMZ. North Korean soldiers have been sent into the mine-strewn buffer zone to do construction work since November.
Putin to visit North Korea amid international concerns over their military cooperation. Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea for two-days starting Tuesday. (RELATED: Report: North Korea Possibly Sending Upwards Of 5 Million Artillery Shells To Ukraine)
New Zealand will increase its military contribution to N. Korea sanctions monitoring.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
THANKS TO TRUMP – More than 20 countries will meet NATO spending targets. The announcement comes as Republicans accuse European members of not paying their fair share into the alliance. (RELATED: Europeans Step Up Sending Combat Jets To Ukraine)
US, Cyprus embark on strategic dialogue that officials say demonstrates closest-ever ties. This, after the two countries embarked on a strategic dialogue on key issues including defense, security, energy, crisis management and the fight against terrorism.
US MILITARY
BECAUSE RURAL WHITES AREN’T ENLISTING – Marines move some recruiting centers to urban hubs in massive realignment. As the military services seek to recruit an increasingly disinterested and under informed population of young Americans, the Marine Corps has quietly begun relocating some of its recruiting hubs. (RELATED: ‘Domestic Extremism’ Is Rare In US Military – Focus On Readiness, Lethality And China)
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: America’s Major Cities Are At A Critical Crossroads
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.
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.
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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.
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