Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s recent remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk have drawn widespread outrage, with one former Republican spokesperson suggesting that Bessent may have “gone insane.”
Bessent made the comments on Wednesday during an appearance on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” calling Kirk’s assassination a “domestic 9/11 moment.” The statement, referencing the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, shocked many political commentators.
Tim Miller, host of “The Bulwark Podcast” and a former GOP communications director, reacted strongly later that evening on his show “Bulwark Takes.” “Our Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessett, has gone insane,” Miller said. “The dude is high on his power, high on his own supply. I don’t know what’s happening, what is going on in the Barbie house that he has in South Carolina, but Scott Bessant has lost his d— mind.”
Miller said he was stunned by Bessent’s comparison, calling the analogy both inaccurate and offensive. He acknowledged that Kirk’s killer was “sick” and “disgusting,” but argued that the tragedy could not be compared to an act of mass terrorism.
“The idea that we go and look back to 9/11 and say we need to take that security state spy apparatus and use it to target and root out foes, there’s no comparison,” Miller said.
Bessent also suggested he was considering ways to use his position at the Treasury Department to investigate organizations aligned with left-wing causes. That comment raised further concern among critics, who warned it could signal an effort to politicize federal power for partisan gain.
“It is deeply alarming what the Treasury Secretary is planning as far as looking at the financing of left-wing groups here in this country,” Miller said.
The controversy adds to growing scrutiny surrounding Bessent, who has become an increasingly outspoken figure in political and media circles. His remarks have sparked questions about whether senior officials should be using their platforms to promote divisive rhetoric or endorse punitive measures against domestic political opponents.
As the debate unfolds, Bessent’s statements continue to draw condemnation across party lines, with many warning that equating political violence to one of the nation’s darkest days risks inflaming tensions rather than fostering accountability or restraint.