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.
U.S. Army soldiers use a wall and a pillar as a shield while they tactically enter and clear a building in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 9, 2004. [Photo Credit: English: Sgt. 1st Class Johancharles Van Boers, U.S. Army, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]
⏱ 6 minute read
TUESDAY PDB – Joe Biden has funded and enabled these attacks. US Forces attacked 151 times in Iraq, Syria during Biden presidency. Iranian-backed proxies have attacked U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria at least 150 times since Joe Biden took office, two U.S. defense officials say.
BECAUSE BIDEN IS WEAK. AND HIS TEAM HAS BEEN PENETRATED BY PRO-IRAN AGENTS.
GO TO THE SOURCE – IRAN! – Treasury sanctions Iran-backed militia members attacking US forces. The U.S. imposed sanctions on six people affiliated with the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataeb Hezbollah, which is accused of being behind a spate of recent attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Israel, Hamas and the US on cusp of reaching a Qatari-mediated hostage deal. It could be announced as soon as Tuesdayand would entail Hamas releasing 50 Israeli women and children hostages taken by the terrorist group during the October 7 terror attack on Israel. This, in exchange for a four-to-five day pause in fighting and three Palestinian women and children in Israeli prisons for every hostage released.
Evidence confirms Israel’s al-Shifa claims, so critics move the goal posts. For weeks, many mainstream media outlets and Israel’s harshest critics around the world have condemned Israel for fighting in and around the al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip. Doctors there denied there were terrorists present. They denied it was a legitimate military target. No hostages there, we were told. Now we know those were lies.
STRONG MESSAGE TO CHINA – Philippines launches joint sea and air patrols with US military. Joint maritime and air patrols in the South China Sea between the Philippines and the U.S. military were launched on Tuesday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, describing it as a “significant initiative.”
Soldiers practice island hopping, advanced tactics in Hawaii exercise. The 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii recently wrapped a two-week exercise that included simultaneous offensive attacks and defensive maneuvers for a brigade stretched across multiple islands and hundreds of miles of ocean.
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.
Iran-Backed Terrorists Have Attacked US Forces 151 Times Under Biden
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 – Joe Biden has funded and enabled these attacks. US Forces attacked 151 times in Iraq, Syria during Biden presidency. Iranian-backed proxies have attacked U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria at least 150 times since Joe Biden took office, two U.S. defense officials say.
BECAUSE BIDEN IS WEAK. AND HIS TEAM HAS BEEN PENETRATED BY PRO-IRAN AGENTS.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels hijack an Israeli-linked ship in the Red Sea and take 25 crew members hostage. The Iran-backed terrorists seized the cargo ship in a crucial shipping route Sunday, moving the Israel-Hamas war to a new maritime front.
GO TO THE SOURCE – IRAN! – Treasury sanctions Iran-backed militia members attacking US forces. The U.S. imposed sanctions on six people affiliated with the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataeb Hezbollah, which is accused of being behind a spate of recent attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria.
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:
ISRAEL’S WAR AGAINST HAMAS TERROR
Israel, Hamas and the US on cusp of reaching a Qatari-mediated hostage deal. It could be announced as soon as Tuesday and would entail Hamas releasing 50 Israeli women and children hostages taken by the terrorist group during the October 7 terror attack on Israel. This, in exchange for a four-to-five day pause in fighting and three Palestinian women and children in Israeli prisons for every hostage released.
Evidence confirms Israel’s al-Shifa claims, so critics move the goal posts. For weeks, many mainstream media outlets and Israel’s harshest critics around the world have condemned Israel for fighting in and around the al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip. Doctors there denied there were terrorists present. They denied it was a legitimate military target. No hostages there, we were told. Now we know those were lies.
Biden adviser arrives in Israel for talks on avoiding war with Lebanon. He arrived Monday to continue efforts to de-escalate in the region and to avoid a second front in Israel’s war against Hamas.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
RIDICULOUS – Pentagon finally issues policy allowing cadets, midshipmen who have kids to stay at service academies. This will allow them to continue their taxpayer funded education at the service academies if they have children while enrolled.
NO TAXPAYER TRANS SURGERY – Transgender veterans group threatens VA with lawsuit over yearslong delay in covering surgeries. It demands the Veterans Administration offer taxpayer funded ‘gender-affirming’ (AKA – transgender genital mutilation) surgeries.
The Pentagon thinks The Rock can fight lagging military recruitment. If you can smell what the Rock is cooking, he and the government would like you to enlist.
NATIONAL SECURITY
NOT WITH A WOKE MILITARY AND CITIZENRY – Is the US ready for war? It always comes down to men killing their enemies in the mud, says Sen. Tom Cotton.
The ‘Replicator’ dilemma: When mass isn’t enough. The Pentagon’s new ‘Replicator’ effort signals a big, public bet on one principle of war: mass.
We’re long past nuclear deterrence: Bring on mutually assured prevention. We’re long past nuclear deterrence: Bring on mutually assured prevention.
HOMELAND SECURITY & LAW ENFORCEMENT
Commission seeks Army reservist’s records in Maine shooting probe. An independent commission investigating the Oct. 25 mass shooting in Maine moved to seek subpoena power so it can obtain the shooter’s military records.
IDIOT – Ex-Marine from North Carolina wore battle gear, attacked police during Jan. 6 riot. On that day in 2021, former Marine Lee Stutts readied for battle, prosecutors say.
CHINA THREAT
STRONG MESSAGE TO CHINA – Philippines launches joint sea and air patrols with US military. Joint maritime and air patrols in the South China Sea between the Philippines and the U.S. military were launched on Tuesday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, describing it as a “significant initiative.”
Aussie PM raises ‘strongest possible objection’ after diver allegedly injured by Chinese ship. Australia said a Chinese ship “was detected operating its hull-mounted sonar in a manner that posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers who were forced to exit the water.”
China taps Mideast airshow to prime regional defense cooperation. Chinese defense contractors used the Dubai Airshow as a springboard for increased regional military cooperation with Beijing, a worrying trend.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
YUP – Russia is weaponizing time, Ukraine tells NATO. At Halifax conference, Western policy leaders struggled to meet a series of connected crises.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 636. Ukraine said fighting intensified around the Russian-occupied eastern town of Bakhmut.
This pizza box-sized equipment could be key to Ukraine keeping the lights on this winter. Staring down another frigid winter and desperate to keep the lights on, Ukraine’s power grid operator has secretly imported custom-built equipment designed to withstand Russian electronic warfare attacks.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson arrives in South Korea port. The carrier arrived in the city of Busan on Tuesday, in a show of extended deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
B-52s leave Indo-Pacific, one joins exercise with S Korea on the way out. Two B-52H Stratofortress bombers from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., returned home last week from a Bomber Task Force rotation out of Guam.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
US missions against ISIS up in Iraq and Syria, body count down. ISIS continues as an insurgency more than four years after it lost its caliphate.
India, Australia to hold talks to boost defense ties. India and Australia are set to hold talks focused on bolstering their strategic, defense and security ties on Monday in New Delhi.
Maldives new president asks India to withdraw its military. Maldives’ new president campaigned on altering the tiny but strategically located Indian Ocean archipelago’s “India first” policy.
US MILITARY
Soldiers practice island hopping, advanced tactics in Hawaii exercise. The 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii recently wrapped a two-week exercise that included simultaneous offensive attacks and defensive maneuvers for a brigade stretched across multiple islands and hundreds of miles of ocean.
EXPENSIVE ‘OOPS’! – Navy aircraft overshoots runway and goes into a bay in Hawaii. The military says a Navy P8-A aircraft overshot the runway at a Marine base on Kaneohe Bay.
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: Trump And Tucker Celebrate Huge Victory, Shocking The Establishment
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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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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