WASHINGTON, D.C. Nov 3, 2025 – In a fiery Fox News Sunday interview, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pushed back against Democratic leaders’ dismissal of President Donald Trump’s recent Asia tour, calling their remarks “ignorant and kind of sad” while touting the trip’s diplomatic and economic wins.
Speaking with host Shannon Bream, Bessent, who accompanied Trump on the full itinerary, described the journey as a “tour de force” that solidified U.S. partnerships across the region and advanced American interests. The trip, which wrapped up last week, included stops in Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, South Korea, and a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
“I was in the room… I’ve been there for the president’s entire trip. It was a tour de force,” Bessent said, directly addressing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ recent claim that the visit “didn’t do squat.” He detailed key achievements: trade deals in Malaysia aimed at boosting U.S. semiconductor supply chains, peace agreements between Thailand and Cambodia to resolve long-standing border disputes, and deepened alliances with Japan and South Korea. “Everyone in the Asia region wants to be partners with [the] US,” Bessent emphasized, noting the “great chemistry” between Trump and Japan’s new prime minister during bilateral talks.
The centerpiece was Trump’s meeting with Xi, which Bessent portrayed as a model of “great respect and many accomplishments.” The discussions paved the way for a finalized U.S.-China trade agreement, with signatures expected imminently, potentially unlocking $2 trillion in new investments flowing back to American industries. Bessent highlighted commitments on rare earth minerals, warning that any Chinese backtracking could trigger escalated U.S. tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
The secretary’s comments come amid broader media skepticism about the trip’s outcomes, with some outlets labeling the Xi summit as mere “symbolism.” Bessent dismissed such narratives, arguing they ignore enforceable clauses like annual compliance reviews and retaliatory tariff mechanisms embedded in the deals. “This is peace through strength actually work[ing],” he said, echoing Trump’s “America First” mantra.
Trump’s Asia swing marks an early foreign policy highlight of his second term, shifting focus from multilateral forums to bilateral breakthroughs. Analysts note the deals could add billions to U.S. exports while countering China’s regional influence without committing American troops or funds to new conflicts.
Bessent’s appearance on Fox News Sunday, his first major network interview since the trip, underscores the administration’s push to reshape the narrative around its diplomatic agenda. As one reply to Bessent’s X post sharing the clip put it: “Trump isn’t just delivering trade deals and peace treaties; he’s reasserting American dominance.”
The full interview aired yesterday, drawing praise from Trump allies for its unapologetic tone. With Congress eyeing potential government shutdown threats and tariff battles ahead, Bessent’s optimism signals confidence in leveraging the Asia gains for domestic economic relief.
