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Scott Bessent faces scrutiny as US debt, tariffs and Iran sanctions loom

The US Treasury is already managing a roughly $40tn national debt as Trump pushes an economic isolation strategy alongside existing sanctions.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Trade & Tariffs

The Guardian reports that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is under intense scrutiny as he takes on Donald Trump’s effort to use economic measures to address tensions tied to tariffs and Iran sanctions.

The article says Bessent is tasked with managing the country’s fiscal burden, noting the US is already trying to handle a national debt pile of about $40tn.

It also describes how the president’s approach contrasts with the typical order of diplomacy, sanctions and military force, citing that Trump began with a six month bombing campaign before shifting toward economic isolation.

Critics quoted by The Guardian argue Bessent lacks the experience to manage the fallout, while the piece frames the coming months as a test of whether he restrains or facilitates the administration’s economic agenda.

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