During a congressional hearing this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was subjected to a barrage of rude interruptions and gotcha questions from Rep. John Larson (D-CT), who seemed more interested in scoring cheap political points than actually helping American families struggling with high gas prices.
The Democrat lawmaker repeatedly cut off the Secretary, demanding a yes-or-no answer on eliminating the federal gas tax while refusing to let Bessent complete a single sentence.
Here’s the full transcript of the embarrassing exchange:
LARSON: Are you in favor of eliminating the gas tax?!
BESSENT: We have moved to—
LARSON: —Are you IN FAVOR of ELIMINATING the gas tax?! Answer!
BESSENT: Well if I’m NOT INTERRUPTED I CAN!
LARSON: I’m waiting for your answer!
BESSENT: We ASKED CONGRESS to eliminate the gas tax. That’s done through statute.
LARSON: You moved that? So you’re in favor of eliminating the gas tax?
BESSENT: We have ASKED for that.
LARSON: So we can join bipartisanly today because you’re in favor to eliminate the gas tax?
BESSENT: AGAIN, the White House ASKED for it.
The exchange then became even more embarrassing for Larson.
Realizing the administration had already taken the action he was accusing them of avoiding, Larson asked: They have?! Why isn’t it before the committee for a vote?
Bessent delivered the knockout blow:
“I don’t run the agenda.”
With his line of attack collapsing, Larson suddenly changed his tone and attempted to pivot toward bipartisanship.
“Well, it’s good to hear that we’re in favor of something that we can work on bipartisanly that will help relieve people who need it the most. Forgive me, but people in my district aren’t doing cartwheels over this economy.”
WATCH:
🚨 OMG. Secretary Bessent just BRUTALLY EMBARRASSED this RUDE Democrat congressman
LARSON (D): Are you in favor of eliminating the gas tax?!
BESSENT: We have moved to—
LARSON: —Are you IN FAVOR of ELIMINATING the gas tax?! Answer!
BESSENT: Well if I’m NOT INTERRUPTED I CAN!… pic.twitter.com/CEqEjxcOds
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 4, 2026
Jim Hᴏft is the founder and editor of The Gateway Pundit, one of the top conservative news outlets in America. Jim was awarded the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award in 2013 and is the proud recipient of the Breitbart Award for Excellence in Online Journalism from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in May 2016.
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