Democrat Congresswoman draws boos over 'shameful' sexism remark in committee hearing with Treasury Secretary

A House Ways and Means Committee proceeding took an unexpected crook Wednesday erstwhile Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) accused Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of interrupting her due to the fact that of her gender—prompting audible groans from the room.

The speech occurred during a tense five-minute questioning session, wherever Sanchez challenged Bessent connected the interaction of tariffs enacted nether President Trump’s administration.

"Prices are rising connected galore mundane goods," Sanchez said, citing increases successful clothing, shoes, canned food, toys, and household tools. She added, "On average, Trump’s tariffs are estimated to outgo households $3,000 much for the aforesaid goods than they would person past year," though she did not mention the root of the fig erstwhile pressed.

TRUMP SAYS 'TOTAL RESET NEGOTIATED' WITH CHINA DURING TARIFF TALKS IN GENEVA

Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., speaks during a House Ways and Means Committee proceeding connected June 11, 2025. Sanchez accused Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of interrupting her due to the fact that she is simply a woman, a remark that drew audible groans from the audience. (Pool)

When Bessent attempted to interject, Sanchez rapidly chopped him off: "Please don’t interrupt me… I cognize I’m a woman, but delight effort to bounds yourself to answering my questions."

That remark prompted groans from the proceeding room, with 1 attendee audibly reacting, "Oh, travel on." Sanchez responded: "No, I’m sorry, but we get talked implicit each the time, and I don’t privation that to hap astatine this hearing."

Bessent, who is openly gay, did not code the accusation and alternatively focused connected defending the administration’s commercialized policies. 

When Sanchez challenged him connected pricing impacts and China's commercialized behavior, Bessent responded, "That’s incorrect," and said, "They met their agreements nether President Trump successful 2020, and President Biden did not enforce them."

WH SLAMS DEMS' 'PARTISAN GAMES' AFTER TRUMP-FOE SCHIFF CALLS FOR INSIDER TRADING INVESTIGATION OVER TARIFFS

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testifies earlier the House Ways and Means Committee connected Capitol Hill, June 11, 2025. Bessent defended the Trump administration’s commercialized policies and rejected economical claims made by Democratic lawmakers. (Pool)

Sanchez repeatedly claimed that American consumers are paying much owed to tariffs and described caller negotiations with China arsenic rushed and lacking transparency. "A poorly negotiated commercialized woody with China is astir apt not worthy the insubstantial that it is written on," she said. "I was alarmed to perceive this greeting that Trump said the U.S.–China woody was done aft conscionable 2 days of talks successful London."

Scott Bessent, US treasury secretary, during a House Ways and Means Committee proceeding successful Washington, DC, US, connected Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Bessent credited President Donald Trump's policies for a slowdown successful US inflation, and said helium had challenged a "decades-old presumption quo" connected trade.  (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Bessent defended the statement arsenic an archetypal step. "The woody struck was for a circumstantial goal, and it volition beryllium a overmuch longer process," helium said, adding, "China has proven an unreliable partner."

The clash betwixt Sanchez and Bessent was repeatedly moderated by Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE), who reminded members of clip limits and decorum throughout the hearing.