Scott Bessent on

deficit

4 quotes · August 2026

Saidverbatim, newest first

  1. Bessent announces fiscal consolidation initiative from President Trump to be revealed end of week or early next week.

    “We are the announcing probably at the end of this week, beginning of next week, an increased focus on fiscal consolidation. And, you know, it's the coming from president Trump.”

    1:47 · CNBC Television · 20 Aug 2026 · permalink
  2. Bessent says 2025 showed fiscal consolidation at 5.7% of GDP, with tariff refunds temporarily inflating the deficit.

    “We actually had a fiscal consolidation for the calendar year 2025. You know, we we had we were at about 5.7% of GDP.”

    2:49 · CNBC Television · 20 Aug 2026 · permalink
  3. Bessent forecasts 2026 tariff revenue will match 2025 levels and contribute to budget consolidation.

    “I would expect that our 2026 tariff income is gonna be roughly what it was in '25, and we're gonna be able to keep that in terms of the budget consolidation.”

    3:15 · CNBC Television · 20 Aug 2026 · permalink
  4. Bessent believes fraud task force and fiscal focus could save several hundred billion dollars.

    “As I said, OMB director Vogt, myself, the president, that combined with the vice president's fraud task force where I think we could save several $100,000,000,000.”

    4:25 · CNBC Television · 20 Aug 2026 · permalink

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