January 1, Bessent Pushes Back as Trump Issues Iran Warning on Hormuz Strait

Wyatt’s Take

• Bessent blasted the host for “terrible framing” on how oil supply affects U.S. gas prices.
• The administration’s strategy aims to keep global oil prices low and limit windfall profits for hostile regimes.
• President Trump issued a 48-hour warning to Iran regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Scott Bessent stood his ground against a liberal media host who tried to spin a false narrative about energy prices and foreign sanctions.

During a heated exchange, Bessent exposed the flawed logic behind the mainstream media’s take on Iranian and Russian oil markets.

Scott Bessent recently corrected NBC host Kristen Welker during a debate over the skyrocketing price of gas since the war began.

Welker challenged the Treasury Department’s decision regarding sanctions on Iranian oil stored on tankers.

“Kristen, why don’t we have good facts here?”

Bessent explained that keeping oil prices below $100 per barrel is better than letting them spike to $150, which would actually give Iran more revenue.

He noted that about 140 million barrels are on the water as part of a contingency plan to stabilize the market.

Welker later accused the Trump administration of rewarding Russia by easing certain sanctions earlier this month.

Bessent dismissed the claim as missing the point of how global energy markets function.

“I don’t know who does your research, you should get rid of them because they were getting it. It was going into China.”

He pointed out that Russia gets less total money when prices stay low, even with higher volumes moving to buyers like China.

Bessent highlighted that the U.S. remains well-supplied because of strategic moves and international coalitions.

The tension comes as President Donald Trump issued a stern 48-hour warning to Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

This global choke point is responsible for transporting roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil.

“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”

Traffic through the strait has been limited since March, causing significant strain on global energy markets.

The administration remains focused on domestic energy security while confronting foreign threats to the supply chain.

Wyatt Matters

Working families feel the pain at the pump when global turmoil targets energy chokepoints, and they deserve leaders focused on keeping prices steady.