Optimized Headline: Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, Defends Trump Administration's Tariff Authority at Supreme Court Hearing

Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, has been in the spotlight this week as the Supreme Court heard arguments on the Trump administration’s sweeping use of emergency powers to impose global tariffs. Scott Bessent attended the hearing and told Fox Business and other outlets he is very optimistic about the outcome. He said the administration made a strong case for President Trump’s authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs and that the Solicitor General's presentation highlighted the need for presidential flexibility in times of economic emergency.

According to statements made by Bessent, the opposing attorneys challenging the scope of presidential tariff power were not convincing and, in his view, did not understand foundational economics. Bessent expressed that the tariffs were crucial not just for balancing trade deficits but also for negotiations on issues with pressing national security implications, specifically calling out the fentanyl tariffs on China which he claims brought Chinese officials to the negotiating table over precursor chemicals.

Multiple media outlets including Fox Business and Firstpost reported that several Supreme Court justices were skeptical of the Trump administration’s claim to broad tariff authority. However, some conservative justices focused on the president’s inherent foreign policy powers. Scott Bessent commented to reporters that the administration is confident the court will rule in its favor and described the tariff structure as “a shrinking ice cube,” intended to start high to protect American industry and then reduce as the domestic market stabilizes.

Bessent was also questioned about the ongoing federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history as of this month. He noted that unless legislation resolves the standoff, military service members are unlikely to receive their next paycheck and critical services are at risk nationwide. Despite the challenges, emergency food and nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC have received partial funding extensions to mitigate some of the shutdown’s impact on vulnerable Americans.

In addition, the Treasury Department under Bessent is preparing an “extract and educate” campaign to help the public understand key provisions of Trump’s two trillion dollar tax overhaul, with a focus on ensuring working Americans feel the benefits of those reforms.

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