SHOT/CHASER: Trump And His Treasury Pick Confirm “Inflation Isn’t His No. 1 Issue” — It’s Tax Handouts for Billionaires

As Donald Trump’s Treasury pick Scott Bessent is set to come up for a confirmation vote today after claiming tax handouts for the ultra-wealthy are “the single most important economic issue of the day,” new reporting is already making it clear that “inflation isn’t [Trump’s] No. 1 issue.”

SHOT: Despite lying to the American people for months about plans to lower costs during the campaign, Trump has put inflation on the “back burner” in his first week on the job…

ABC News: “[I]n Trump’s first week back in the White House, there was little in his initial blitz of executive orders that directly tackled those prices, besides directing federal agencies to start ‘pursuing appropriate actions.’ … 

“‘They all said inflation was the No. 1 issue. I said, “I disagree,”’ Trump said. ‘I talked about inflation too, but how many times can you say that an apple has doubled in cost?’  

“[T]here is a risk that some of Trump’s plans taken as a whole could raise — not reduce — prices.”

CHASER: … and instead, Trump’s Treasury pick Scott Bessent confirmed that giving the ultra-wealthy ANOTHER tax handout is “the single most important economic issue.” 

Scott Bessent: “This is the single most important economic issue of the day. This is pass/fail. If we do not fix these tax cuts, if we do not renew and extend, then we will be facing an economic calamity.”

Sen. Ron Wyden: “Do you believe the tax code should treat wages differently than it treats wealth?”

Bessent: *struggles to answer coherently* … “It is a decision that was made when the tax codes were written so …” 

Sen. Wyden: “It sounds to me like you do believe that it’s fine to treat wealth more favorably. I couldn’t disagree more. The idea that a dollar earned by a hedge fund manager has more value than a dollar earned by a teacher or a factory worker, I just think it’s a disconnect with the American people.”

Sen. Raphael Warnock: “What about [those making more than] $1 billion?”

Bessent: “So again, that I think that these are the job creators.”

Sen. Warnock: “So there’s no income level for which you would support raising taxes? Is that fair?”

Bessent: “There is no income level …”