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.
DESPERATE – Navy to allow those without high school diploma or GED to enlist. This, as long as they score a 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test that all prospects must take. This, to boost recruitment in the face of historic recruiting crisis across the services. WELL, EXCEPT FOR THE MARINES.
Biden is green-lighting border chaos. The border has been increasingly lawless since Joe Biden took office. Texas isn’t getting any help from the Supreme Court either.
China is trying to have it both ways in the Middle East. There has been plenty of hand wringing in the West about the prospect of China displacing — or at least rivaling — the U.S. as the world’s leading superpower. But the evolving security crisis in the Red Sea makes clear that this remains a distant prospect.
US approves sale of F-16 jets to Turkey, F-35s to Greece. This, following the Turkish government’s ratification this week of Sweden’s membership in NATO. The move is a significant development in the expansion of the alliance.
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 Appeasement Of Iran Caused Recent US Military Deaths
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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MONDAY PDB – Biden: America ‘shall respond’ after overnight drone attack by Iran-backed militia kills 3 US troops. The drone strike hit a U.S. installation in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border. Biden’s weak response to months of strikes by such groups against American forces across is mostly to blame for these U.S. fatalities.
IT IS IRAN, STUPID. AND IT’S ALL BIDEN’S FAULT. HIS TEAM IS INFILTRATED AND COMPROMISED BY IRANIAN ASSETS.
Biden should target Iranian operatives after the killing of US troops. Sooner or later, it had to happen: Iran was going to cross a U.S. red line.
BIDEN MUST HIT IRAN HARD – LIKE TRUMP DID.
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
US planning to station nuclear weapons in UK amid threat from Russia. Missiles could be placed at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk in case of potential war between NATO and Russia.
DESPERATE – Navy to allow those without high school diploma or GED to enlist. This, as long as they score a 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test that all prospects must take. This, to boost recruitment in the face of historic recruiting crisis across the services. WELL, EXCEPT FOR THE MARINES.
Expect ‘AI versus AI’ conflict soon, Pentagon cyber leader says. Artificial intelligence will usher in the next phase of cyber warfare, enabling new tools and new takes on classic attacks.
White House sets new guidelines for Cabinet notifications after Austin’s secret hospitalization. The new guidelines should ensure the White House will be informed any time a Cabinet head can’t carry out their job after SecDef Lloyd Austin’s secret hospitalization this month was kept for days from Joe Biden and his top aides.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Biden is green-lighting border chaos. The border has been increasingly lawless since Joe Biden took office. Texas isn’t getting any help from the Supreme Court either.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
Lawmakers want oversight of Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” discharge review. A group of Democrats wants to know what the Pentagon is doing to restore honor and benefits to LGBTQ+ veterans who were dismissed because of their sexual orientation.
POLITICS
Senate Democrats call on Pentagon to halt aid to human rights abusers and coup governments. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) on Friday called for Team Biden to halt plans for joint military exercises with countries accused of human rights abuses, or democratic nations fallen to coups.
Special foreign aid tool for Israel approved for Taiwan’s use, but not Ukraine. Joe Biden’s foreign aid request for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific remains stalled on Capitol Hill, inhibiting funding for a unique mechanism that could help U.S. allies and partners build up their own defense industries.
Liberal veterans group launches ad against Trump in Pennsylvania. The PAC will launch an ad on Sunday targeting former President Trump over his past comments about veterans.
ISRAEL-GAZA WAR
Biden administration discussing slowing some weaponry deliveries to Israel to pressure Netanyahu. U.S. officials want to convince the Israeli government to heed U.S. calls to scale back its military assault in Gaza.
US pauses funding to UN agency for Palestinian refugees after claims staffers were involved in Hamas attack. The agency fired a number of its staffers in Gaza suspected of taking part in the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel.
CHINA THREAT
China is trying to have it both ways in the Middle East. There has been plenty of hand wringing in the West about the prospect of China displacing — or at least rivaling — the U.S. as the world’s leading superpower. But the evolving security crisis in the Red Sea makes clear that this remains a distant prospect.
IRAN THREAT
Iran launches 3 satellites into space that are part of a Western-criticized missile program as tensions rise. Iran said Sunday it launched three satellites into space with a rocket that had multiple failures in the past, the latest for a program that the West says improves Tehran’s ballistic missiles.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels say they attacked a US warship (mobile sea base) without providing any evidence. This claim was immediately rejected by a US. defense official.
USS Carney shoots down missile in first attack on Navy since October. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched the missile Friday at the Navy destroyer Carney as it patrolled the Gulf of Aden.
Crews extinguish fire on tanker hit by Houthi missile off Yemen after US targets rebels in airstrike. The ship was a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
South Korea says North Korea fired several cruise missiles, adding to provocative weapons tests. The cruise missiles flew over waters near a major military shipyard on the country’s eastern coast, extending a streak in NK weapons tests.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
NATO chief urges US lawmakers to continue supporting Ukraine, warns Beijing is watching. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the world will be ‘vulnerable’ if Putin succeeds in Ukraine.
US war plans for Ukraine don’t foresee retaking lost territory. Team Biden is working on a long-term strategy for supporting Kyiv — despite the funding impasse in Congress. But those plans do not anticipate significant Ukrainian gains in 2024.
Russia reportedly creates nuclear explosion simulator for troop training. A new simulator, complete with mushroom cloud effects, will enable the Kremlin’s troops to train for combat operations after a radioactive blast.
Questions surround Russia’s stealthy combat drone. Publicly unveiled in 2019, an early version of the Sukhoi-made Okhotnik-B has already made its combat debut in Ukraine.
Ukraine says it uncovered $40 million corruption scheme in weapons procurement. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it has discovered the corruption.
SPACE THREAT
How the US military uses satellites to detect enemy missiles. Military space capabilities are critical for U.S. troops in the Middle East, and that includes satellites that can detect missile launches with infrared sensors.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
US approves sale of F-16 jets to Turkey, F-35s to Greece. This, following the Turkish government’s ratification this week of Sweden’s membership in NATO. The move is a significant development in the expansion of the alliance.
US POWER OVERSEAS
IRAN IS THE BIGGER THREAT! – Iraq and US begin formal talks to end US-led coalition formed to fight the Islamic State terror group.
Arctic-focused US Army unit joins forces with Japanese soldiers on Hokkaido. U.S. soldiers from a division that specializes in extreme cold-weather operations are putting their skills to the test alongside Japanese troops on the northern island this month.
US MILITARY
TOXIC FEMALE LEADERSHIP – Fired Navy Captain created ‘toxic’ climate, grabbed and struck crew on duty. A Navy captain’s yelling and public “humiliation” of her officers and crew was so severe and frequent that sailors were afraid to bring bad news to her attention.
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: Mexican Soldiers Deployed To Popular American Tourist Destination
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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