Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confronted ABC host George Stephanopoulos during a Sunday broadcast, challenging Stephanopoulos over comments he made during the 1995-96 government shutdown in which he reportedly described Republicans as “terrorists.”
During the exchange on This Week, Bessent cited archival remarks by Stephanopoulos from a 2000 PBS interview in which the former Clinton advisor said Democrats used rhetoric comparing the opposition to terrorism in the 1995 shutdown strategy. “Are you comfortable with how you framed the GOP back then?” Bessent asked.
Stephanopoulos responded by asserting that Bessent was misrepresenting the historical record, but Bessent interrupted, offering to provide direct quotes. The back-and-forth underscored growing tensions amid the current shutdown negotiations and revived scrutiny of 1990s-era political rhetoric.
The confrontation comes as the Treasury Secretary pushed for five moderate Democrats to cross party lines and help reopen the government, framing the 52-3 Senate math as a clear lever. Stephanopoulos kept redirecting to current strategy, prompting the heated moment captured live.
The segment reflects continued friction between the Trump administration and major media networks over editorial coverage, transparency and accountability during the ongoing budget stand-off.