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.
THEY SERVED – THEY BELONG – ‘I’m an American’: Efforts to bring back deported veterans are underway. President Joe Biden has pledged to bring back non-citizen veterans who have been unjustly deported. There are also legislative actions in the pipeline that could protect veterans from deportation.
LONG OVERDUE – Congress wants to double rare earth mineral fund to free defense supply chain from China. Congress seeks to more than double the net worth of the national strategic mineral stockpile to lessen the defense industrial base’s reliance on adversaries such as China for supplies needed to build everything from bullets to nuclear weapons to night vision goggles.
DIGITAL DICTATORSHIP – China’s surveillance state is growing bigger and more Invasive. These documents reveal how. A Times investigation analyzing over 100,000 government bidding documents found that China’s ambition to collect digital and biological data from its citizens is more expansive and invasive than previously known.
RUSSIA THREAT
LEVERAGING US – Kremlin press secretary says Geneva Conventions would not apply to two Americans feared captured in Ukraine. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Monday that the Geneva Conventions — a series of agreements on, among other things, international standards for the treatment of people captured during war — would not apply to the two Americans believed to have been captured by Russian or pro-Russian forces in Ukraine in recent weeks. He also added that the possibility of the death penalty was not off the table.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 118. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the eastern cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk are seeing the “most difficult” fighting. Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said Lysychansk was shelled non-stop on Monday and Russian forces have entered the industrial part of Severodonetsk. Zelenskyy claimed Russia is planning a renewed attack on Kharkiv after Moscow withdrew its forces from the city and region in mid-May.
COVERT WAR HEATING UP – Israel expands operations against Iranian nuclear, military assets. The new moves are the latest evolution of a strategy by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett who aims to bring Israel’s battle against Iran onto Iranian territory after years of targeting Iranian agents and Tehran’s proxies outside the country in places like Syria.
IRANIAN PROVOCATION – US, Iranian military vessels have near miss in Persian Gulf. Three fast-attack craft belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps came within 50 yards of the USS Sirocco and the USNS Choctaw County, officials said.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
SPUTNIK MOMENT? – S Korea’s second space rocket launch successfully puts satellites in orbit. South Korea’s second test launch of its domestically produced Nuri rocket successfully placed several satellites in orbit on Tuesday, officials said, taking a major step in efforts to jumpstart its space program after a first test failed last year.
AFRICA IN CRISIS
West Africa bloc deploys stabilizing force to Guinea-Bissau. The 15-nation bloc announced in February that it would deploy the force, a few days after President Umaru Sissoco Embalo survived what he called an assassination attempt by drug traffickers.
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.
Returning Our Deported Veterans, Israel’s Covert War Against Iran
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
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – American Liberty News (ALN) – in collaboration with the Center for American Defense Studies (CADS) – provides our readers the PDB:
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DAILY BRIEFING.
Get Your Best Daily Defense and Foreign Affairs Intelligence Here in One Brief.
Read the summaries or dive deeper via the linked articles.
Today’s PDB includes a variety of critical, global national security issues.
READ TODAY’S PDB BELOW:
NATIONAL SECURITY
INTEL FAILURE – How US intel officials missed that the Russian military was ‘hollow force.’ The Russian force the US military and intelligence agencies believed to be a near-peer adversary hasn’t shown up.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Miami police want to buy Floridians’ guns — and send them to Ukraine. Miami police are seeking to get weapons off the streets — and into the hands of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russia.
THEY SERVED – THEY BELONG – ‘I’m an American’: Efforts to bring back deported veterans are underway. President Joe Biden has pledged to bring back non-citizen veterans who have been unjustly deported. There are also legislative actions in the pipeline that could protect veterans from deportation.
CHINA THREAT
GUAM – THE NEXT PEARL HARBOR – Why this tiny island in the Pacific may be ground zero in a war with China. If China’s leaders thought a war with the United States was inevitable, they would be tempted to strike first.
LONG OVERDUE – Congress wants to double rare earth mineral fund to free defense supply chain from China. Congress seeks to more than double the net worth of the national strategic mineral stockpile to lessen the defense industrial base’s reliance on adversaries such as China for supplies needed to build everything from bullets to nuclear weapons to night vision goggles.
DIGITAL DICTATORSHIP – China’s surveillance state is growing bigger and more Invasive. These documents reveal how. A Times investigation analyzing over 100,000 government bidding documents found that China’s ambition to collect digital and biological data from its citizens is more expansive and invasive than previously known.
RUSSIA THREAT
LEVERAGING US – Kremlin press secretary says Geneva Conventions would not apply to two Americans feared captured in Ukraine. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Monday that the Geneva Conventions — a series of agreements on, among other things, international standards for the treatment of people captured during war — would not apply to the two Americans believed to have been captured by Russian or pro-Russian forces in Ukraine in recent weeks. He also added that the possibility of the death penalty was not off the table.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 118. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the eastern cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk are seeing the “most difficult” fighting. Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said Lysychansk was shelled non-stop on Monday and Russian forces have entered the industrial part of Severodonetsk. Zelenskyy claimed Russia is planning a renewed attack on Kharkiv after Moscow withdrew its forces from the city and region in mid-May.
DEFENDING THE GREAT WHITE NORTH – Canada plans billions in military spending to counter Russia threat in Arctic. The move would deliver on a promise to the U.S. to modernize Ottawa’s capabilities to help defend North America.
IRAN THREAT
COVERT WAR HEATING UP – Israel expands operations against Iranian nuclear, military assets. The new moves are the latest evolution of a strategy by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett who aims to bring Israel’s battle against Iran onto Iranian territory after years of targeting Iranian agents and Tehran’s proxies outside the country in places like Syria.
IRANIAN PROVOCATION – US, Iranian military vessels have near miss in Persian Gulf. Three fast-attack craft belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps came within 50 yards of the USS Sirocco and the USNS Choctaw County, officials said.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
SPUTNIK MOMENT? – S Korea’s second space rocket launch successfully puts satellites in orbit. South Korea’s second test launch of its domestically produced Nuri rocket successfully placed several satellites in orbit on Tuesday, officials said, taking a major step in efforts to jumpstart its space program after a first test failed last year.
AFRICA IN CRISIS
West Africa bloc deploys stabilizing force to Guinea-Bissau. The 15-nation bloc announced in February that it would deploy the force, a few days after President Umaru Sissoco Embalo survived what he called an assassination attempt by drug traffickers.
US MILITARY AND SPACE
US Navy needs more small warships to counter Russia, researchers say. Destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers allow the US to project power. But the Navy lacks small and powerful ships that are cheap to operate and easy to keep deployed.
The Air Force wants to take on active shooters with drones and robots. A new system being tested by the Air Force will alert authorities to gunshots and deploy robots and drones to intercept.
END of PDB
paulcrespo.com
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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.
Treasury Secretary Clarifies Threat Against Bill Pulte
Search
follow us
subscribe
Trending Stories
Six Thousand Complaints, 27 Investigations: The Federal Whistleblower Shield Exposed
For the better part of a decade, theChina’s Fifth Column Doesn’t Require Troops Or Missiles
A jury is a modest institution. Twelve citizensDC Police Faked Crime Data And Now Congress Is Investigating
Congressional investigators are now looking into reports thatTrump’s AI Export Policy Faces Scrutiny As Chinese Military-Linked Labs Seek Access
PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): China labs, with military links,Commentary
Six Thousand Complaints, 27 Investigations: The Federal Whistleblower Shield Exposed
China’s Fifth Column Doesn’t Require Troops Or Missiles
DC Police Faked Crime Data And Now Congress Is Investigating
Trump’s AI Export Policy Faces Scrutiny As Chinese Military-Linked Labs Seek Access
Security
Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Warship, St. Petersburg Oil Terminal During Economic Forum
Los Alamos Employee Found Dead As Investigators Continue Examining Other Disappearances
US Considers Expanding NATO Nuclear-Sharing Program Into Eastern Europe: Report
Trump Names Housing Finance Leader Bill Pulte As Acting DNI
Foreign Affairs
California Tech CEO Arrested For Allegedly Supplying US Equipment To Iran’s Nuclear Program
Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Warship, St. Petersburg Oil Terminal During Economic Forum
French Left-Wing Leader Claims France Was Never A White Or Christian Nation
US Considers Expanding NATO Nuclear-Sharing Program Into Eastern Europe: Report
Business & economics
Insider Trading Investigation Launched Into Ex-Congressman George Santos
No, Matt Walsh, 50,000 People In Lake Tahoe Aren’t Losing Power Because Of Data Centers
Treasury Department Proposes Commemorative $250 Bill Featuring Trump Portrait
Report: Billionaire Republican Businessman Flees America Amid Rising Taxes
heath & science
Los Alamos Employee Found Dead As Investigators Continue Examining Other Disappearances
How Ken Paxton Finally Brought Texas Children’s Hospital To Justice
Longtime Florida Democrat Frederica Wilson To Retire From Congress
Trump Team Reportedly Moving Ebola-Exposed Americans To Kenya
American Liberty Arms
GunTuber Legend Dugan Ashley Arrested By Feds: Free Speech Concerns, And What It Could Mean For Content Creators
NRA, FPC, SAF Sue Maryland Over Glock-Style Handgun Ban
Virginia Officials Rebel: Sheriffs And Prosecutors Refuse To Enforce New Gun Ban
Pakistan Deploys Thousands Of Troops, Jet Fighter Squadron To Saudi Arabia
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.
TOP TAGS
TOP CATEGORIES
FEATURES
American Liberty News ©2024
Evolution Digital Media
1900 Reston Metro Plz
Suite 600
Reston, VA 20190