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Bessent blames left's political 'venom' for violence after deadly Mar-a-Lago incident
By Taylor Penley
Published February 22, 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday blamed what he called "venom" from the political left following a deadly incident at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
"Two would-be assassins dead, one in jail for life, and this venom coming from the other side…" Bessent said during "Sunday Morning Futures."
"They are normalizing this violence. It’s got to stop."
ERIC TRUMP ANGERED BY LACK OF ANSWERS ON BUTLER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, SAYS WE STILL 'KNOW NOTHING'
Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to members of the media outside the White House on Nov. 5, 2025. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Bessent pointed to a campaign commercial from an Illinois Democratic Senate candidate in which Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton showcased people declaring, "F--- Trump, vote Juliana," urging that the "profane" video be taken down.
"We don't know whether this person was a mastermind, unhinged or what, but they are normalizing this… violence," he said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Stratton's office for comment and did not immediately hear back.
Bessent’s comments came as authorities investigate a security incident at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where a young male suspect was shot and killed early Sunday.
SECRET SERVICE THWARTS POTENTIAL THREAT NEAR TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS WITH RAPID RESPONSE
An aerial view shows the Mar-a-Lago estate and the north gate in Palm Beach, Florida, following reports of a shooting incident on Feb. 22. (Fox News)
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed to Fox News that the suspect was 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina.
The president was in Washington, D.C., at the time of the incident. No Secret Service agents or law enforcement personnel were injured.
"I want to congratulate Sean Curran and the Secret Service for protecting the president and his family," Bessent said, adding that Trump and his family are safe.
The Treasury secretary declined to discuss potential changes to the president’s security posture at Mar-a-Lago following the incident but insisted that protections around Trump are "as strong as it's ever been."
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