I'll admit to not knowing who Scott Bessent was before he became President Trump's choice to run the Treasury, beating out now-Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick for the spot. Here's a blurb from his bio on the Treasury site:

Mr. Bessent has been in the global investment management business for 40 years, visiting 60 countries, interacting with international leaders and central bankers. He is regarded as a currency and fixed income specialist.  

Part of Bessent's bio may have given conservatives pause: he worked for years at Soros Fund Management, eventually becoming its Chief Investment Officer. Yes, that Soros. But, as our own streiff noted when writing of Bessent's nomination, Bessent became a Trump loyalist during the first administration and donated $1 million to Trump's first inaugural committee.

Right out of the gate, Bessent proved his loyalist bona fides when he blasted uber-lefty Bishop Marian Budde for attempting to "selfishly steal the spotlight" at the National Prayer Service, which took place the day after the inauguration and during which Budde went on an anti-Trump screed. In a letter to Budde, Bessent blasted her for failing to be welcoming of the new administration, calling her a "narrow-minded, out-of-touch elite with little regard for the facts."

Alrighty then.

Bessent was the third Cabinet secretary confirmed, behind Marco Rubio and Kristi Noem, and got straight to work implementing his "3/3/3" approach to fiscal policy:

• Reduce the budget deficit to 3% of GDP;
• Achieve 3% annual economic growth; and,
• Increase domestic oil production by 3 million barrels per day

He quickly became one of the go-to voices for the Trump administration, often appearing on the Sunday news shows to measuredly explain the administration's economic objectives. 

But, it's his handling of the tariff backlash that really elevated Bessent above others in MAGA world. He steadfastly stuck by the president's side this past week, has held America's hand as we weathered the storm, and deftly dealt with the press without turning every media hit into a preening photo op. He's the gold standard for Cabinet secretaries.

His framing of the trade imbalances that preceded the now-paused tariffs hits the exact right note: It's not a Wall Street issue, it's a Main Street issue.

For the last four decades, Wall Street has grown wealthier than ever before. And it can continue to grow and do well. But for the next four years, it’s Main Street’s turn.

It’s Main Street’s turn to hire workers. It’s Main Street’s turn to drive investment. And it’s Main… pic.twitter.com/lMMO4Davhz

— Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) April 9, 2025

The thing about Bessent is that he didn't need to be Secretary of the Treasury, he was doing just fine. His success hinges in part because he doesn't need this job to set him up for a Fox News gig or for getting him well-paid seats on corporate boards; it seems to me that he wants to serve President Trump and help right the country's economic ship.

It seems like the president is also a Scott Bessent fan.

BE COOL.@SecScottBessent @HowardLutnick pic.twitter.com/1z7eNoAteO

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 9, 2025

I appreciate Bessent's calm approach to what was a very volatile situation and his clear sense of duty to his president and his country. He stays in DC and gets the job done, something a few other Cabinet secretaries might also think about doing before public opinion starts biting them in their CoolSculpted behinds.

Scott Bessent is the real deal, so I hereby start The Official Scott Bessent Appreciation Society. Who's with me?