If anyone needed a shining example of how unserious some of our elected officials have become, the latest performance from Rep. Linda Sanchez during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing delivers it in spades.
Let’s set the scene: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was brought in to discuss trade policies—remember, that little thing that affects jobs, wages, and whether you can afford groceries. Instead, the hearing devolved into a spectacle over perceived gender slights when Sanchez accused Bessent of interrupting her because she’s a woman. Cue the collective groan, both in the hearing room and across the country from folks who are tired of watching this political theater.
Here’s the kicker: Sanchez had already been hammering Bessent on tariffs enacted under President Trump. Fine—challenging policy is part of the job. But when Bessent dared to try to clarify a point, she immediately reached for the gender card, declaring, “I know I’m a woman, but please try to limit yourself to answering my questions.” Right. Because apparently being questioned about the validity of your argument is now an act of misogyny.
Let’s not gloss over the fact that Bessent, who is openly gay, handled the moment with more grace than anyone else in the room. He kept his focus on defending the Trump administration’s trade stance, calmly pointing out that China had met their commitments under Trump but that the Biden administration failed to enforce them. Now that’s called sticking to the issues—a skill that seems to be in short supply among certain members of Congress.
Meanwhile, Sanchez kept trotting out tired talking points about American consumers paying more under Trump’s tariffs. Maybe if she’d allowed the Secretary to finish a sentence, we could have heard about how those tariffs were part of a broader strategy to counter China’s long-standing trade abuses—abuses that President Biden has largely let slide. But no, we got sound bites about “rushed” negotiations and a snide remark about a two-day meeting in London.
JUST IN: Audience groans after Rep Linda Sanchez accuses Scott Bessent of being sexist after he corrected her after she falsely claimed “prices are rising.”
Sanchez: Prices are rising on many everyday goods.
Bessent: Congresswoman, that’s not true.
Sanchez: Don’t interrupt me… pic.twitter.com/5fpetlWSfp
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 11, 2025
Here’s a reality check: a trade deal with China isn’t a one-and-done event. It’s a process. And yes, it’s a process that requires holding China accountable—something this administration has shown little appetite for. But instead of grappling with that reality, Sanchez chose to turn the hearing into a soapbox for grievance politics.
Chairman Adrian Smith deserves credit for at least trying to maintain some semblance of decorum, reminding members about time limits and the actual purpose of the hearing. Unfortunately, when the cameras are rolling, certain politicians can’t resist playing to the base with identity-driven sound bites designed to go viral.
And viral it did go. The White House’s rapid response team wasted no time calling the moment “shameful.” Of course they did—anything to distract from the fact that their own trade policy is a mess and inflation is still hammering American families. Notice that Sanchez’s office had no comment when Fox News Digital came calling. Perhaps they were too busy crafting the next viral tweet.
This hearing wasn’t about tariffs. It wasn’t about China. It wasn’t about helping American workers. It was about scoring political points in a news cycle that thrives on outrage. And while Sanchez might have won a few clicks, the American people lost another chance to hear a real discussion on policies that affect their everyday lives. Maybe next time, Congress can focus on facts instead of feelings. But don’t hold your breath.
