Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a masterclass in handling hostile Democrats during his Senate Banking Committee hearing Thursday, expertly sidestepping a politically motivated ambush from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) regarding the controversial Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti.
Van Hollen, known for his anti-gun crusade, attempted to corner Bessent with loaded questions about Pretti's Second Amendment rights during what was supposed to be testimony on financial stability oversight. But Bessent wasn't having it – he skillfully redirected the conversation to highlight the tragic death of Ashli Babbitt during the January 6th Capitol incident, exposing the Democrats' glaring double standard.
"The day after PHS agents shot Alex Pretti 10 times, Secretary Bessent suggested it was justified because Pretti had a gun holstered on his waist which he was licensed to carry," posted @iTALKMAKEUP on social media, adding "His refusal to retract his words speaks volumes @NRA."
This is exactly what Van Hollen and his Democrat cronies do – they use tragic incidents to push their gun-grabbing agenda while completely ignoring cases that don't fit their narrative. Patriots saw right through this shameless political theater.
As one observer noted on social media, this was pure "political positioning, not economic analysis" designed to deflect from real policy failures while fitting "a national talking point" rather than addressing actual economic concerns.
Democrats' Desperate Deflection Tactics
Why is a Treasury Secretary being grilled about local law enforcement incidents anyway? Because Democrats know their economic policies have been disasters, so they're desperately trying to change the subject to gun control. Van Hollen thought he could trap Bessent into making statements that would undermine lawful gun ownership – but he picked the wrong guy.
Bessent's response was perfect. By bringing up Ashli Babbitt, he reminded everyone of the left's selective outrage when it comes to government use of force. Where was Van Hollen's concern for constitutional rights then?
This exchange perfectly illustrates why Trump's cabinet picks are so effective – they refuse to be intimidated by Democrat grandstanding and they know how to fight back. Patriots across America are celebrating Bessent's performance, with supporters sharing videos of his deflection tactics across social media.
How long will Democrats continue using tragedy to push their anti-constitutional agenda instead of focusing on the real issues facing American families?