At a House Financial Services Committee hearing on May 7, 2025, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clashed with ranking member Rep. Maxine Waters over inflation, tariffs and housing policy. Waters pressed Bessent to oppose the administration’s tariffs and blamed immigration and trade for affordability problems; he pushed back, prompting a heated back-and-forth in which Waters told Bessent to “shut up” and Bessent retorted, “Can you maintain some level of dignity?” Waters later complained to committee chair Rep. French Hill that Bessent had used up her time. The exchange underscored partisan tensions over U.S. economic and immigration policy and inflamed public debate. (congress.gov)