The House Ways and Means Committee hearing on U.S.-China trade policies took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) accused Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of sexism after he interrupted her questioning. The incident occurred during a tense five-minute questioning session, with Sanchez challenging Bessent on the impact of tariffs enacted under President Trump’s administration.
Sanchez, who has been a vocal critic of Trump’s trade policies, cited rising prices for everyday goods, including clothing, shoes, canned food, toys, and household tools. She stated that the tariffs have resulted in an average cost increase of $3,000 for households, though she did not provide the source of this figure when pressed. When Bessent attempted to interject during the exchange, Sanchez quickly cut him off, addressing the gender-based interruption directly: