California Rep Judy Chu’s jaw-dropping reply when Scott Bessent asks who was president in WWI

California Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu got into a vicious back-and-forth over the Iran war with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Thursday — but was caught flat-footed when asked who the president was during World War I.

At a House Ways and Means Committee hearing to discuss the Trump administration’s fiscal policies, Chu tried to grill Bessent on a past remark by the Republican president, suggesting he wasn’t factoring in the financial situations of US citizens during negotiations to end the war.

“Do you agree with President Trump that you also do not care about Americans’ financial situations?” Chu asked, while a staffer held a sign claiming price increases during the US war with Iran.

Bessent then responded with a simple question to Chu: “Who was the president during World War I?”

Chu seemed caught off guard and stayed silent for a moment. “Are you refusing to answer to my question?” she asked in return.

Bessent said he wasn’t and then repeated his question.

“I don’t know,” the congresswoman admitted.

The two then start speaking over each other as Bessent attempted to explain why he asked that question.

Bessent brought up Woodrow Wilson, he said, because much like the US entry into World War I, the Trump administration’s actions are motivated by long-term security.

In fact, Trump had explained to Fox News days after his remark that with negotiations, his sole focus is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“I can tell you, Americans’ financial situation would be devastated if Iran got a nuclear weapon and there was a permanent, permanent shutdown of the flow of energy out of the Middle East,” Bessent said.

Secretary Bessent flatly stated that Trump does care about the financial woes of US citizens. Even then, Chu insisted that wasn’t true, but Bessent dismissed the attack as Trump’s remarks being taken out of context.

The two later continue trying to speak over each other at points as Bessent attempted to say that the Wilson administration probably made a similar judgment in entering World War I.

Chu continued her attack on Bessent as a billionaire who couldn’t understand how everyday people were struggling. The secretary countered with examples of costs of certain goods seeing improvement.

“You’re entitled to your opinion, not your own facts,” Bessent said at the end of the exchange.

US inflation increased at its fastest pace in three years in April, driven by higher energy prices amid the war with Iran, which has restricted the flow of the global oil supply.

However, California’s economic policies have also exacerbated the cost of living, which Bessent pointed out.

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