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Treasury Staff Report Bessent Spat, Prompting Mass Departures

By Drooid · Oct 8, 2026, 12:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent erupted at a Washington, D.C., restaurant, spat in his food, and left December 2025.
Code Pink activist Olivia DiNucci and others heckled Bessent, calling him “ignorant.”
Treasury staff shared ways to avoid Bessent, and dozens of staff and seven Senate-confirmed officials departed, with only one replacement.
Steve Bannon called Bessent “a good person” with a “tripwire” temper; President Donald Trump praised his feisty persona.

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Story summary

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent erupted at a Washington, D.C., restaurant, spat in his food, and left December 2025.
Code Pink activist Olivia DiNucci and others heckled Bessent, calling him “ignorant.”
Treasury staff shared ways to avoid Bessent, and dozens of staff and seven Senate-confirmed officials departed, with only one replacement.
Steve Bannon called Bessent “a good person” with a “tripwire” temper; President Donald Trump praised his feisty persona.