Bessent told CNN's "State of the Union" May 18 that he spoke with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon the day before, when Trump told the company on Truth Social that they should "' EAT THE TARIFFS ," and not charge valued customers "ANYTHING."

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells Meet the Press that, after his negotiations with Chinese officials, both countries concluded that tariffs rates were “unsustainable” and will continue trade talks.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed the U.S. credit downgrade as a "lagging indicator" of economic and fiscal conditions, after Moody's took the U.S. off its top tier.