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Bessent leans into reported scuffles with Trump officials, cites Alexander Hamilton setting 'precedent'
By Joseph Wulfsohn
Published January 29, 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leaned into his reputation of being a rabble-rouser behind the scenes, crediting his most famous predecessor for setting the "precedent."
On Thursday's installment of the "Ruthless" podcast, Bessent was confronted about him "busting some heads" as part of the Trump administration.
"You might be the only cabinet secretary to allegedly recorded a couple of knockouts while he's in his term," co-host Josh Holmes chuckled.
"Well, treasury secretaries — Alexander Hamilton — there's some precedent," Bessent responded with a grin.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett leaned into his feisty reputation behind the scenes, invoking his predecessor, Alexander Hamilton, setting a "precedent" during his appearance on the "Ruthless" podcast. (Markus Schreiber/AP Photo)
"Apparently, you win your fights," co-host Comfortably Smug chimed in.
"Yeah, yeah. Exactly," Bessent nodded before moving on.
Hamilton famously dueled with then-Vice President Aaron Burr, fatally shooting the treasury secretary.
Last year, Bessent was reportedly involved in multiple confrontations with other Trump administration officials, including Elon Musk, who President Donald Trump tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The two of them allegedly engaged in a shouting match that escalated into physical shoving during a dispute over who should be appointed to lead the IRS.
There was reportedly a physical altercation at the White House between Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. (Getty Images)
Bessent also reportedly clashed with federal housing chief Bill Pulte, allegedly telling him "I’m gonna punch you in your f---ing face" and suggesting they take things "outside so that he could "f---ing beat your a--."
The treasury secretary also doubled down on his war of words with Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who made headlines for bringing prop kneepads to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, alluding to a gay sex joke about others bending the knee to Trump.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed President Donald Trump from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, including bringing Trump-styled kneepads to the forum. (Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Bessent, who is gay, turned the joke around onto the governor.
"He brought all these kneepads with him — I don't know, mayor of San Francisco, who knows," Bessent quipped to the "Ruthless" co-hosts.
Catch the latest from "Ruthless" on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
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https://www.foxnews.com/media/bessent-leans-reported-scuffles-trump-officials-cites-alexander-hamilton-setting-precedent