Scott Bessent moment pulled from Situation Room during interview — reveals US Navy may escort oil tankers to Strait of Hormuz
President Trump ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was in the middle of an interview, to the White House Situation Room as the administration grapples with the financial fallout from the Iran war.
Bessent, 63, was speaking to Sky News’ Wilfred Frost for “The Master Investor Podcast” in the treasury room of the Treasury when an aide interrupted about 13 minutes into the conversation.
“The president wants you right away,” an aide told Bessent off-camera, according to a clip shared on X by the outlet.
The microphone was removed from Bessent’s coat as he exited the building at 10:22 a.m., according to the store’s time stamp. The top economic officials returned about two hours later.
Bessent said he discussed “a lot of things” in his meeting with President Trump.
Meanwhile, Frost asked Bessent about Trump’s condition after an emergency request to cross the street to the White House.
“The President is very happy, the Iranian mission is progressing well ahead of schedule,” Bessent said before revealing that his son is considering joining the military.
“I can give this team my highest recommendation from President Trump, the head of the Joint Chiefs, to the Secretary of the Army. I can trust in their hands the life of my child,” he said.
The conversation jumped to the topic of the ongoing conflict in Iran, which began on Feb. 28, when the US launched Operation Epic Fury as part of a major joint operation with Israel that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Frost was referring to the current rise in the US dollar and how it peaked earlier this week as other financial indices were taken higher as part of the war.
Part of the influx of funds comes as the Iranian regime, led by newly appointed supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, seizes the Persian Gulf’s key shipping lane, the Strait of Hormuz, as a “tool to suppress the enemy.”
Bessent indicated that the US may begin escorting international ships through the channel when the threat of an Iranian attack is eliminated.
“My belief is that as soon as possible militarily, the US Navy, and possibly an international coalition, will be escorting the ships,” he said.
U.S. officials fear Iran may be placing underwater mines to block shipping lanes, but there is no evidence of such explosives.
“Actually there are tankers coming now, Iranian tankers, I believe some Chinese flag tankers have arrived. So we know they didn’t work hard,” Bessent said.
The Treasury Secretary did not confirm or deny whether the topic of the naval escort was discussed during Trump’s call to the White House.
He said: “Your words, not mine.”
He later revealed that the project cost the US about 11 billion, and said that no price was too high for Trump, according to Sky News.
The Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, spoke about the issue of escorting people in this province, he said that it is being discussed but he did not set a time.
“It’s going to happen soon, but it’s not going to happen now,” Wright told CNBC.
“We are not ready yet. All of our military assets are currently focused on destroying Iran’s capabilities and the manufacturing industry that provides its offensive capabilities,” Wright said.
