MAGA Sleazebag Stumbles When Reporter Won't Back Down

[0:00] Would the administration ever raise taxes in order to fund this war? [0:06] Again, Kristen, the terrible framing. [0:09] I think that it's just a it's a simple question that I think a lot of people have. [0:14] It's a ridiculous question. [0:16] Well, what can you answer it? [0:18] Just as a reminder, Scott Besson is the Treasury Secretary. [0:21] So that means his entire job is to answer how America will pay for things and its plan to pay for things. [0:27] And so when a reporter asks the most basic possible version of that question, will the Trump administration raise taxes to fund the Iran war? [0:34] He instead calls it a ridiculous question and then just gives us a creepy little smile and says nothing else. [0:40] To be super clear, I mean, he could have just said no. [0:42] That's a very easy answer. [0:44] But instead, he chose to get huffy with the reporter, maybe because he actually can't say no to that question. [0:49] The Iran war currently costs $1 billion in taxpayer money every single day. [0:55] On top of that, last week, [0:57] the Pentagon requested $200 billion in additional funds to help with the war. [1:02] And Americans everywhere are asking, how exactly do we plan on paying for that? [1:06] Let's talk about the overall cost of this war. [1:10] The administration's asking Congress poised to an additional $200 billion in additional funding for this war. [1:16] Some Republicans who could cast key votes on this are expressing hesitation or outright opposition. [1:23] Take a listen to them, and then I want to get your reaction on the other side. [1:28] Any initial red flags for you? [1:30] No, maybe it's a lot of money. [1:31] I'll go through it, see what they need. [1:33] I am a no. [1:34] I've already told leadership I am a no on any war supplementals. [1:37] I am so tired of spending money elsewhere. [1:41] Should President Trump have gone to Congress on the front end of this war [1:45] if he was going to ask for Congress's help now for more funding? [1:49] Again, President Trump was within his authorities under the War Powers Act to initiate, [1:58] this action, and we actually now, we have plenty of money to fund this war. [2:03] What we are doing is, this is supplemental. [2:06] President Trump has built up the military, as he did in his first term, [2:10] as he's now doing in his second term, and he wants to make sure that the military is well supplied going forward. [2:19] So she shows Schott some clips of his own party members, including Lauren Boebert, [2:23] who is not exactly known for her nuanced fiscal restraint, but even she is saying, [2:27] So she shows Schott some clips of his own party members, including Lauren Boebert, who is not exactly known for her nuanced fiscal restraint, but even she is saying, [2:28] that she is an absolute no on this $200 billion in additional assistance to fund the war. [2:33] And Schott's response is, don't worry, we have plenty of money. [2:37] How does that track exactly? [2:39] We have plenty of money, but we also need $200 billion more for the war, but also, like, we do have the money, don't worry. [2:45] And it is so interesting, actually, that Trump will go to Congress to ask for $200 billion in additional funding for this war, [2:52] but apparently is unable to find money for Medicaid, or SNAP benefits, or to pay the TSA workers during the DHS shutdown. [2:57] but apparently is unable to find money for Medicaid, or SNAP benefits, or to pay the TSA workers during the DHS shutdown. [2:58] Why would we do that? [2:59] That we have plenty, we have a trillion dollars in this year's budget for the military, [3:09] and President Trump, even before the conflict started, had said that he would like to further build out the military. [3:16] So, just, is raising taxes under consideration at all? [3:20] Not at all. [3:21] You're saying you have plenty of money? [3:22] Not at all. [3:23] And then to circle back on the tax question, Schott then says, [3:26] Why would we raise taxes? We have a trillion dollars in the military. [3:28] Why would we raise taxes? We have a trillion dollars in the military. [3:29] Why would we raise taxes? We have a trillion dollars in the military. [3:30] Okay, but I mean apparently the trillion dollars in the military budget isn't enough, [3:33] because now the Pentagon needs an additional $200 billion, [3:37] because apparently a trillion dollars is both plenty of money, [3:40] but also not quite enough money, depending on which question you're trying to fumble your way through. [3:44] If you have plenty of money, trillions, by your own count, [3:47] why is there a need for a supplemental? [3:49] What exactly is being supplemented? [3:51] You can't tell a reporter, we have plenty of money, [3:53] and then go ask Congress for $200 billion extra dollars of, let's not forget, taxpayer money. [3:58] And I want to repeat that this is the same exact administration [4:02] that just a few months ago in this term cut a trillion dollars in Medicaid benefits [4:07] and $500 billion in SNAP benefits. [4:10] Your healthcare and your food assistance were cut directly to pay for this war [4:15] that nobody asks for and nobody wants. [4:17] Let's turn to how all of this is impacting consumers. [4:20] United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is now planning, he says, to cut flights [4:24] and is planning for oil to go as high as $175. [4:27] A barrel with prices potentially staying above $100. [4:31] A barrel through 2027, this is according to him. [4:34] All of this could potentially mean higher prices for consumers. [4:37] What do you say to Americans who feel they were promised lower costs [4:42] and now they're getting the opposite? [4:44] Kristen, I think the American people understand that in any 50, [4:50] I'm not going to put a time on it, but let's just pick 50 days of temporary elevated prices, [4:58] prices will come off on the other side for 50 years of not having an Iranian regime [5:04] with a nuclear weapon. [5:06] The American people are beginning to understand, thanks to President Trump, [5:11] that there is no prosperity without security. [5:14] I heard you say 50 days. [5:16] Are you saying that prices could start to come down? [5:18] No, no, no. [5:19] What's the time frame? [5:20] I was just picking a point. [5:22] I don't know whether it's going to be 30 days. [5:24] I don't know whether it's going to be 50 days. [5:26] I don't know whether it's going to be 100 days. [5:27] But to have 50 years of peace in the Middle East [5:31] and know that the Iranian regime is defanged [5:35] because, Kristen, what we had before was the illusion of security. [5:39] And if you're wondering, like I was, because I went and Googled this right after I watched this clip, [5:43] Scott's net worth is something like $500 million. [5:46] So maybe that gives you some insight into why he does not care at all about higher prices [5:51] and why he doesn't even blink when asking Americans to swallow higher prices for, [5:55] let me check what he said, was it 30 days? [5:57] Or was it 50 days or 100 days? [5:59] He can't even give you a timeline. [6:01] So now we have to deal with higher gas prices, [6:03] higher airfare prices, [6:05] higher prices on literally anything that moves on a plane or a truck. [6:08] So that means higher prices for groceries [6:10] and higher costs to just get to work [6:13] and higher costs for your family vacation, [6:15] all of which was already expensive [6:17] and is only going to continue to get more expensive. [6:19] And these are the same people, [6:21] the same exact administration who told you that they didn't have money [6:24] for your health care or for your food assistance [6:26] or for your housing assistance [6:28] or to raise the minimum wage, [6:30] but they have no problem spending a trillion dollars, [6:32] a billion dollars a day [6:34] on a war that nobody wanted [6:36] and nobody asked for. [6:38] The Trump administration promised you lower costs on day one, [6:41] but they didn't do that, [6:42] nor did they do that on day 50. [6:44] And now they're saying, [6:45] actually, you might have to deal with higher costs [6:47] for 30 days or maybe 50 days or maybe 100 days [6:50] or maybe actually we're not sure how long. [6:52] Scott's interview is all just a long way of saying we don't care. [6:55] The Trump administration does not care about higher prices [6:58] because none of them have to deal with it. [7:00] Trump is a billionaire [7:01] and he has surrounded himself with billionaires [7:03] and those are the people he cares about. [7:05] And that's why none of them feel it [7:07] when the price of gas goes up [7:08] or the price of groceries go up [7:09] or the price of daycare goes up. [7:10] And that's why Scott won't even bother putting a timeline on higher prices [7:14] because he does not care about you [7:16] and he does not care about your bills. [7:18] Congressman, what do you say to Americans [7:19] who think that we're involved in this war now in Iran [7:22] as a distraction from the Epstein files? [7:24] Well, I think they have good reason to think that. [7:29] I mean, we have a president who can't even explain [7:32] why the hell we're at war, [7:34] can't define what the mission is, [7:35] can't tell us when it's going to end. [7:37] He's spending a billion dollars a day on this war. [7:40] At the same time, he's, you know, [7:43] not doing anything to help end hunger in this country. [7:46] He's doing nothing to make childcare more affordable [7:48] or to make healthcare more accessible or affordable. [7:50] I mean, so we don't have the money, [7:52] but we have a billion dollars a day [7:53] to blow on this country. [7:54] This is a crazy war halfway around the world. [7:56] So, yeah, I mean, I wouldn't put anything [7:58] past this president. [7:59] You know, I think he's hollow, [8:01] I think he's immoral, [8:02] and I don't think he gives a shit [8:03] about the American people. [8:04] I guess that kind of goes along with my next question. [8:06] Like, what do you make of him spending four days [8:08] in Palm Beach golfing in the middle of a war? [8:10] It tells you all you need to know about this guy. [8:12] I mean, he's, you know, he's living in his own world [8:16] and he doesn't care about regular people. [8:18] I mean, he's a multi-billionaire. [8:19] All he cares about is making money. [8:21] He doesn't care about any of the problems [8:23] that my constituents face. [8:24] I mean, gas prices are, you know, skyrocketing [8:27] and, you know, and he's golfing. [8:29] As a side note, after spending this entire video [8:31] hearing Scott do financial gymnastics [8:33] over and over and over again, [8:34] how refreshing is it to hear someone [8:36] just give a straight answer to a question? [8:38] But let's get into the meat of what he actually said. [8:40] A billion dollars a day. [8:42] That is what this war costs. [8:43] One billion dollars every single day [8:46] for a war with no stated end date [8:48] and no defined mission. [8:49] And while that meter is running, [8:51] childcare is still unaffordable, [8:52] healthcare is still expensive, [8:53] healthcare is still unaffordable, [8:54] the same administration that can't find money [8:56] for SNAP or for Medicaid or for minimum wage increases [8:59] is spending a billion dollars a day [9:01] of your taxpayer dollars [9:03] on a war that the president can't explain. [9:05] And Trump spending four days in Palm Beach [9:07] in the middle of this war [9:08] tells you everything you need to know. [9:10] He never cared about you, [9:11] he never cared about this country, [9:13] and he never will. [9:14] Let's finish things off with one last clip of Scott [9:16] to just drive this home. [9:17] He posted this quote, [9:19] Robert Mueller just died. [9:21] Good, I'm glad he's dead. [9:22] He can no longer hurt innocent people. [9:25] Do you think it's appropriate [9:26] for the president of the United States [9:28] to celebrate the death of an American citizen, [9:30] someone who's a Bronze Star, Purple Heart recipient [9:33] and who served in Vietnam? [9:34] Kristen, I was with the president [9:36] in the green room at Davos [9:37] and there was a video playing [9:39] of what may have been an illegal raid [9:43] on his home at Mar-a-Lago. [9:45] They are going through his wife's wardrobe [9:48] and I watched the look in his eye [9:50] and I think that neither one of us [9:52] can understand what has been done [9:54] to the president and to his family. [9:56] But to the question of the president's post, [9:59] I mean, Robert Mueller didn't order that raid. [10:02] Is it appropriate for the president [10:04] to celebrate the death of any American citizen, [10:06] Mr. Secretary? [10:07] Again, I think that given what has been done [10:09] to President Trump and his family, [10:11] it is impossible for either of us [10:13] to understand what he has been through. [10:16] A reporter asked Scott [10:17] whether it was appropriate [10:18] for the president of the United States [10:19] to celebrate the death of an American citizen. [10:21] And his answer was, [10:23] you have to understand [10:24] what Trump has been through. [10:27] I can't even say that with a straight face [10:29] because what are we talking about right now? [10:31] Just because someone searched through [10:33] Melania's luxury-filled wardrobe, [10:35] it's impossible for any of us [10:36] to understand the president's pain? [10:38] Do I have that straight? [10:39] Okay. [10:40] It's impossible to understand [10:41] what Trump has been through. [10:42] I mean, that's kind of true [10:43] because most Americans [10:44] will never have his wealth [10:46] or his lawyers [10:47] or his security detail [10:48] or his private jets [10:49] or his golf courses [10:51] or his ability [10:52] to get the best healthcare money can buy [10:54] or the luxury of spending a week at Palm Beach [10:57] in the middle of a war that he started. [10:59] A billion dollars of taxpayer money [11:01] has been spent on this war every single day. [11:03] Meanwhile, Medicaid benefits have been cut. [11:05] SNAP benefits have been cut. [11:07] Childcare is more expensive every single day. [11:09] Gas prices are skyrocketing. [11:10] And Scott's argument [11:11] is that we should have more empathy [11:13] for the president. [11:14] That is the Republican message.