U.S. Treasury Secretary: "Even if Democrats win the House, it will be hard to block tariff policy"

"Economic isolation of Iran is also proving effective"
"No response yet on Putin's G20 attendance"

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that even if Democrats win a majority in the House in the midterm elections this November, it would be difficult for them to block key priorities of the Trump Administration. In particular, he expressed confidence that the administration could continue its policies regardless of the election outcome, saying it had strong authority over tariffs.

In an interview with Two Way TV on Oct. 20 (local time), two weeks before the midterm elections, Bessent was asked what Democrats could do to block the Trump Administration's agenda if they won a majority in the House. He replied, "There is very little they can do."

Addressing Democrats' opposition to tariff policy, he stressed, "We have very strong tariff authority."

His remarks were seen as signaling the administration's determination to continue its key economic policies under the authority granted to it, even if Republicans lose their majority in the House in the midterm elections.

The midterm elections are scheduled for Nov. 3. They will be held as President Trump's approval ratings decline amid rising energy prices and a growing cost-of-living burden for Americans due to the war with Iran.

Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both the Senate and the House. Whether they can retain their majorities in Congress has therefore emerged as a key focus.

Bessent also said that U.S. government sanctions aimed at economically isolating Iran were proving effective.

"Since August, there has been no sign of crude oil being loaded at oil facilities on Iran's Kharg Island," he said. "There is currently no Iranian oil at sea."

"Panic is beginning to set in in Iran," he continued. "I don't know whether it will take four weeks or eight weeks, but at some point, the Iranian economy will enter an uncontrollable phase."

Bessent said it also remained uncertain whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would attend the Group of 20 (G20) summit to be held in Florida in December. Asked whether Putin had accepted President Trump's invitation, he said, "I haven't yet seen a response on whether he will attend."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.