I’m going to give a sliver of credit to George Stephanopoulos and ABC’s “This Week” — they’re at least willing to have Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on as a guest, even though they have to know he’s going to come well-prepared.
On Sunday, Bessent was that and then some as he and Stephanopoulos sparred over the shutdown. Bessent laid out the stark realities of the shutdown — the human cost of it and the negative impact it’s having on the economy as a whole.
.@SecScottBessent on the Democrat Shutdown: “We’ve seen an impact on the economy from day one — but it’s getting worse and worse… There are estimates that economic growth for this quarter could be cut by as much as half if this shutdown continues.” pic.twitter.com/QWjiLSKleu
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 9, 2025
BESSENT: [W]e’ve seen an impact on the economy from day one, but it’s getting worse and worse. We had a fantastic economy under President Trump the past two quarters. And now there are estimates that the economy, economic growth for this quarter, could be cut by as much as half if the shutdown continues.
And what your correspondent didn’t talk about there, George, was there’s, of course, the human cost, and we’re going to have the busiest travel day of the year, the day after Thanksgiving. And, you know, Americans should look to five Democratic senators to come across the aisle to open that. But on the other side, there’s also, cargo is being slowed down. So, you know, we could end up with shortages, whether it’s in our supply chains, whether it’s for the holidays.
So, you know, cargo and people are both being slowed down here. And that’s for safety’s sake, George.
Bessent addressed the issue of affordability, rightly pointing out that it was the incredible inflation that we saw under the Biden administration that the Trump administration is attempting to unwind — and maintaining that the Trump administration isn’t going to try and gaslight the American public over it the way the previous administration did.
“We had to stop the [inflation] increase first. Now we are starting to see prices level off, come down — gasoline is down, interest rates are down so mortgages are down,” says @SecScottBessent. “Over the coming months, in the next year, prices are going to come down.” pic.twitter.com/Rr7IXqtKYC
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 9, 2025
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let’s talk about affordability and inflation. That was one of the key concerns that voters said was on their minds as they were voting this Tuesday. It appeared to be the driving force in the elections. But President Trump is still insisting that prices are way down even though last month’s report showed inflation stuck at about 3 percent.
Are Americans worried about inflation just wrong?
BESSENT: Well, George, I can tell you, the — what we’re not going to do is what happened the — under the Biden administration where, you know, the administration and the media gaslit everyone and said, “Oh, you know, there’s a vibe session. You don’t understand how good you had — had it.”
And what happened then was we had the worst inflation, 40 or 50 years — you know, 22, 23 percent, but the basket of goods and services for working Americans was up more than 30 percent.
And what we’re seeing is we had to stop the increase first. Now we are starting to see prices level off, come down. You know, gasoline is down, interest rates are down, so mortgages are down. And I think we are making substantial progress on that.
And I think over the coming months and the next year, prices are going to come down.
SEE ALSO: Watch: Sec. Bessent Squashes Liberal Media for Narrative About Trump on Shutdown
Liberal Mouthpiece Grills Walmart CEO on Prices – He Promptly Demolishes Dem Narrative
But the laugh-out-loud moment came when Stephanopoulos asked Bessent about ending the filibuster as the solution to the shutdown, and Bessent, having brought the receipts, tweaked Stephanopoulos while reminding him of his prior sentiments regarding shutdowns.
.@SecScottBessent low-key cooks George Slopodopolous on the Democrat Shutdown: “You were involved in a lot of these in the 90s. You basically called the Republicans ‘terrorists.’ You said that it is not the responsible party that keeps the government closed.” pic.twitter.com/kg1DhA40QA
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 9, 2025
(Emphasis mine.)
STEPHANOPOULOS: The president continues to post about ending the filibuster. Is that — is that the best way to end the shutdown right now? Is that what the administration’s position is?
BESSENT: No, George, the best — the best way to do it — and look, you were involved in a lot of these in the ’90s. And, you know, you basically called the Republicans terrorists and, you know, you said that it is not the responsible party that keeps the government closed.
And so, what we need is five brave, moderate Democratic senators to cross the aisle because right now it is 52 to three, 52 to three, five Democrats can cross the aisle and reopen the government. That’s the best way to do it, George.
STEPHANOPOULOS: I can disagree with you about the history there, but we don’t do history lesson right now.
BESSENT: No, George —
(CROSSTALK)
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let’s talk — let’s talk about — let’s talk about —
BESSENT: No, no, no. George, George, George —
(CROSSTALK)
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let’s talk — sir, let’s talk about what’s happening right now. I asked you a question —
BESSENT: If you want, I’ve got all your quotes here. I got all your quotes here, George.
STEPHANOPOULOS: I am sure — I am — I’m sure you do. But let’s talk about the situation right now —
(CROSSTALK)
BESSENT: And I went back and read your book. So, you got one — one purchase on Amazon this week. And that’s very much what you said.
Take heart, George — the economy may be slowly making its turnaround, but at least you know you got some extra change in your pocket this week, compliments of the Treasury Secretary!
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
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