Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Reportedly Weighing Resignation Over Trump’s Tariff Policies

Bessent faces isolation within the administration as sweeping tariffs disrupt markets, provoke international retaliation, and disproportionately affect vulnerable Americans.

Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary for just over two months, is reportedly considering resigning due to dissatisfaction with President Trump's aggressive tariff policies.
Trump's tariff strategy includes a 10% baseline tariff on most countries and additional measures targeting China, which has retaliated with a 34% tariff on U.S. imports.
The tariff policies have caused significant economic disruption, including the worst single-day market losses since 2020, and have strained Bessent's credibility in financial markets.
Bessent, feeling isolated within the administration and reportedly not close to Trump, has struggled to defend the tariffs and warned other countries against retaliation, warnings that have largely been ignored.
Critics argue the tariffs disproportionately harm economically vulnerable Americans who rely on low-cost imported goods, further fueling concerns about the policy's broader impact.