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.
Pier-building begins
Construction of the floating JLOTS pier in the Mediterranean is underway. The pier will support @USAID and humanitarian partners to receive and deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. @USTRANSCOM and @USEUCOM support the movement of #humanitarianaid. (Courtesy Photo)
⏱ 4 minute read
ANALYSIS – Barely begun, behind schedule and recently under attack by Palestinian terrorists, Joe Biden’s floating humanitarian aid pier in the war zone of Gaza is now estimated to end up costing over $320 million FOR A 90-DAY EFFORT.
Of course, this means the final price tag will likely be closer to $400 million, which is kind of creeping around half a billion dollars.
The $320 million official estimate is still a massive cost explosion. Initially, Team Biden claimed the pier would not involve any U.S. troops on the ground and would cost half as much. (RELATED: Trump Calls For Peace In Gaza)
Israeli military publishes video of Gaza aid pier under construction
The Israeli military has released footage from construction work for a floating pier on the coast of the central Gaza Strip, part of a US-led project to bring aid into the besieged coastal enclave. It said the… pic.twitter.com/AUoobwWmDP
Now we see the cost doubling, and the number of U.S. troops needed to build and operate the pier estimated to be about 1,000 soldiers and sailors, all supposedly at sea.
Biden announced the floating pier in March during his State of the Union address. This, as aid officials implored Israel to ease access for relief supplies into Gaza over land routes, which is the cheaper and more effective method. By opening a sea route, Biden says it will help avert a famine in northern Gaza.
The Free Beacon quoted Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.), the top Republican on the Democratic-led Senate Armed Services Committee, as saying: “The cost has not just risen. It has exploded.”
The outlet added:
Wicker and some other lawmakers have questioned whether the Gaza pier is a worthwhile endeavor, particularly given the risk that U.S. military personnel could become targets of Hamas militants.
“How much will taxpayers be on the hook once—or if—the pier is finally constructed?” Wicker asked. “For every day this mission continues, the price tag goes up and so does the level of risk for the 1,000 deployed troops within range of Hamas’ rockets.”
Concerns about the threat to American troops getting caught up in the Israel-Hamas war were underscored on Thursday as news emerged of a mortar attack near the area where the pier will eventually touch ground.
According to multiple news reports, under the Pentagon plan, aid will be loaded on to commercial ships in Cyprus to sail to the floating platform now under construction off Gaza. Pallets will then be loaded on to trucks which will be loaded on to smaller ships that travel to a floating two-lane causeway.
The temporary 600-yard-long causeway will lead to shore.
U.S. officials say the pier will be operational by early May but there will be no U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza. The Pentagon has claimed that U.S. troops working on the pier would not set foot on land.
The causeway will be fully assembled at sea. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be targeted and hit, though – by missiles, fast attack boats or drones. But a British naval vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean will be a floating dormitory for the American soldiers and sailors.
Once the system is operational, up to 150 trucks of aid could be delivered a day with two million meals, enough to feed almost all of the territory’s 2.3 million population.
Aid coming off the pier will need to pass through Israeli checkpoints on land. This, despite the aid also being inspected by Israel in Cyprus before being shipped to Gaza. Israel wants to prevent any aid getting to Hamas terrorists, as has happened repeatedly before.
Meanwhile, reported ABC News, “Security plan for Gaza aid workers still unclear with military pier to open soon.” The U.N. wants its security forces to protect aid workers, one official says.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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’s Risky ‘Gaza Pier’ Boondoggle Cost Now Over $320 Million
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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ANALYSIS – Barely begun, behind schedule and recently under attack by Palestinian terrorists, Joe Biden’s floating humanitarian aid pier in the war zone of Gaza is now estimated to end up costing over $320 million FOR A 90-DAY EFFORT.
Of course, this means the final price tag will likely be closer to $400 million, which is kind of creeping around half a billion dollars.
The $320 million official estimate is still a massive cost explosion. Initially, Team Biden claimed the pier would not involve any U.S. troops on the ground and would cost half as much. (RELATED: Trump Calls For Peace In Gaza)
Now we see the cost doubling, and the number of U.S. troops needed to build and operate the pier estimated to be about 1,000 soldiers and sailors, all supposedly at sea.
Biden announced the floating pier in March during his State of the Union address. This, as aid officials implored Israel to ease access for relief supplies into Gaza over land routes, which is the cheaper and more effective method. By opening a sea route, Biden says it will help avert a famine in northern Gaza.
Republican lawmakers, in particular, aren’t happy. (RELATED: Congressman Present At Party With Human Trafficking Victim And Drugs, Sworn Statement Says)
The Free Beacon quoted Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.), the top Republican on the Democratic-led Senate Armed Services Committee, as saying: “The cost has not just risen. It has exploded.”
The outlet added:
According to multiple news reports, under the Pentagon plan, aid will be loaded on to commercial ships in Cyprus to sail to the floating platform now under construction off Gaza. Pallets will then be loaded on to trucks which will be loaded on to smaller ships that travel to a floating two-lane causeway.
The temporary 600-yard-long causeway will lead to shore.
U.S. officials say the pier will be operational by early May but there will be no U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza. The Pentagon has claimed that U.S. troops working on the pier would not set foot on land.
The causeway will be fully assembled at sea. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be targeted and hit, though – by missiles, fast attack boats or drones. But a British naval vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean will be a floating dormitory for the American soldiers and sailors.
They will live and sleep aboard RFA [Royal Fleet Auxiliary] Cardigan Bay. (RELATED: Will Iran Go Nuclear Under Biden?)
Once the system is operational, up to 150 trucks of aid could be delivered a day with two million meals, enough to feed almost all of the territory’s 2.3 million population.
Aid coming off the pier will need to pass through Israeli checkpoints on land. This, despite the aid also being inspected by Israel in Cyprus before being shipped to Gaza. Israel wants to prevent any aid getting to Hamas terrorists, as has happened repeatedly before.
Meanwhile, reported ABC News, “Security plan for Gaza aid workers still unclear with military pier to open soon.” The U.N. wants its security forces to protect aid workers, one official says.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
READ NEXT: Top Liberal Reporter Turns On Dysfunctional Network
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
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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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