Once Threatened to Punch a Colleague, U.S. Treasury Secretary Backtracks: Didn’t Hit His Face, Just Wanted to Kick His Butt
Bill Putnam, the head of the U.S. Department of Housing and Financial Regulation with a past feud with Bessent, is set for a promotion.
This week, Trump appointed Putnam to temporarily serve as the Director of National Intelligence. The position had been vacated earlier by Gabrielle Gabbard, who resigned over personal matters.
During Wednesday’s hearing, when questioned about his past conflict with Putnam, Bessent openly admitted that he once truly disliked Putnam and even threatened to “take care of” him.
When a lawmaker brought up rumors that the two had nearly come to blows, they asked whether Bessent really wanted to punch Putnam in the face. Bessent jokingly replied that what he actually meant was kicking Putnam in the butt.
But Bessent quickly added that although members of the Trump team aren’t always harmonious, they ultimately share the same goals—like a sports team that fights fiercely in the locker room but unites on the field to win the game.
He also mentioned that he had just called Putnam yesterday to congratulate him on his promotion and expressed hope for good cooperation in the future. Last year, Bessent had boldly claimed that many U.S. treasurers throughout history had engaged in duels, and within this administration, he clearly held the upper hand.
Bessent himself always gives off an incongruous impression—outwardly calm and refined, yet his actions and words are often sharp and ruthless.
It's not just Putnam—Bessent has also been rumored to have physically clashed with Musk, when Musk was still serving in the White House. Their ideological differences led to a heated argument, escalating into shouting matches and even a fistfight, drawing widespread attention at the time.
In short, none of Trump’s current cabinet members are pushovers. By comparison, Vice President Vance has been somewhat overshadowed, falling behind these ministers in terms of political flair.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867055679975498/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone.