Alleged Treasury Secretary Remarks on Zelenskyy Surface in Upcoming Book

The forthcoming book *Regime Change* claims that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent used a series of disparaging terms to describe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while advising President Donald Trump against hosting him in the Oval Office. According to excerpts, Bessent allegedly called Zelenskyy a “little f**r,” a “special-needs child for the Europeans,” and likened him to “Mr Bean on crack.” The book also reports that Bessent questioned Zelenskyy, “What the f* do you want to do?” during a Kyiv meeting days before the White House visit.

New book claims Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately mocked Volodymyr Zelenskyy before his Oval Office visitBessent called Zelenskyy a "little bastard" and advised Trump not to receive him - mediaNewsweekThe Guardian

The meeting was intended to finalize a U.S.–Ukraine minerals agreement that Bessent had been negotiating. Bessent traveled to Kyiv to press Zelenskyy on the deal, where the two reportedly argued for 45 minutes. On February 28, 2025, Zelenskyy entered the Oval Office; the encounter quickly devolved into a shouting match involving President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who criticized Zelenskyy for perceived ingratitude and for not wearing a suit. The planned joint press conference was cancelled, and the minerals agreement was postponed until a revised deal was signed in April 2025.

NewsweekNew book claims Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately mocked Volodymyr Zelenskyy before his Oval Office visitBessent called Zelenskyy a "little bastard" and advised Trump not to receive him - mediaThe Guardian

• Early February 2025 – Bessent’s Kyiv visit and 45-minute dispute with Zelenskyy.

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• February 28, 2025 – Oval Office meeting; confrontation and cancellation of press conference.

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• April 2025 – Revised minerals deal signed, creating a joint investment fund.

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• June 20 2026 – *The Guardian* and *Newsweek* publish excerpts from *Regime Change*.

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• June 23 2026 – *Regime Change* scheduled for worldwide release.

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• June 2026 – G7 summit in France revisits Ukraine aid, referencing the controversy.

Bessent called Zelenskyy a "little bastard" and advised Trump not to receive him - media

• The U.S. Treasury Department declined to comment on the allegations.

New book claims Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately mocked Volodymyr Zelenskyy before his Oval Office visit

• Ukraine’s foreign ministry also did not respond to requests for comment.

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• In a Bloomberg interview, Bessent described the February meeting as “one of the greatest diplomatic own goals in history” and said he was “shocked… that President Zelenskyy would… disrespect the American people.”

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• President Trump later told reporters that Bessent had been “treated rather rudely” during the Kyiv visit.

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• Bessent characterized the exchange in Kyiv as “very heated.”

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The book’s revelations have been described as potentially embarrassing for the Trump administration, highlighting internal dissent over Ukraine aid. Several Trump aides reportedly feared the Oval Office visit could “blow up,” and the language attributed to Bessent has drawn condemnation for its personal nature. Critics note that the claims rely on “hundreds of interviews” but have not been independently verified.

New book claims Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately mocked Volodymyr Zelenskyy before his Oval Office visit

Sources differ on the exact wording of Bessent’s remarks, ranging from “little f****r” to “little jerk” and “little bastard.” The reliability scores of the reporting outlets hover around 39–40 percent, and no official confirmation of the quotes exists. Consequently, the precise content and context of the alleged statements remain unverified.

New book claims Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately mocked Volodymyr Zelenskyy before his Oval Office visit

• “‘I’ve dealt with this little f****r,’” — Scott Bessent, alleged private remark

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• “He’s tricky. He’s like the special-needs child for the Europeans. And he’s acting like Mr Bean on crack.” — Scott Bessent, alleged private remark

New book claims Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately mocked Volodymyr Zelenskyy before his Oval Office visit

• “one of the greatest diplomatic own goals in history.” — Scott Bessent, Bloomberg interview

Newsweek

• “I was shocked, shocked that President Zelenskyy would come into the Oval Office, behave like this, speak to the president, speak to the vice-president, but more importantly, disrespect the American people like this.” — Scott Bessent, Bloomberg interview

The Guardian

• “Trump reminded him … of his old boss, the legendary investor and major Democratic donor George Soros” — Scott Bessent, alleged private remark

The Guardian

• “‘What the f*** do you want to do?’” — Scott Bessent, alleged question in Kyiv

Newsweek

If accurate, the remarks could strain diplomatic rapport, complicate future aid negotiations, and expose deep divisions within the U.S. administration over policy toward Ukraine. The episode also underscores how internal dissent can surface publicly, potentially influencing both domestic perception and international confidence in U.S. leadership on the conflict.

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