Bessent confronts Stephanopoulos on “This Week,” accusing ABC host of 1995 “GOP terrorists” rhetoric
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confronted ABC host George Stephanopoulos on This Week, accusing him of previously calling Republicans “basically terrorists” over the 1995 shutdown and demanding he own his memoir and interview statements during a heated exchange.
Key takeaways
- Bessent accused George Stephanopoulos of once describing Republicans as “basically terrorists” in messaging about the 1995 government shutdown, citing Stephanopoulos’s own interviews and writing, including a Fox News report and an AOL summary.
- Stephanopoulos pushed back: he said a history debate was not the focus, telling Bessent, “I can disagree with you about the history there, but we don’t have a history lesson right now.”
- Primary sources cited: Bessent referenced Stephanopoulos’s memoir and a PBS Frontline coverage as the origin of the quoted wording about calling opponents “basically terrorists.”
What happened on “This Week”
Sunday’s segment on ABC’s This Week turned into a tense, tightly timed exchange. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent repeatedly pressed host George Stephanopoulos to acknowledge public statements attributed to him from the Clinton-era shutdowns.
Bessent said he had Stephanopoulos’s own words on hand, citing the ABC anchor’s memoir and interviews. The back-and-forth became heated, with both men speaking over one another; the moment was captured in a video clip that circulated after the broadcast and was posted by Fox News.
Quoted line at issue: “we were trying to say they were basically terrorists, and it worked,” as attributed to a retrospective description of Clinton-era messaging.
Background: the 1995 government shutdown and the quote at issue
In late 1995 and again in December 1995–January 1996, the federal government experienced two major funding shutdowns caused by disputes between President Bill Clinton and a Republican-controlled Congress. Stephanopoulos served as a senior White House adviser at that time and later reflected on the administration’s messaging strategy.
Bessent’s references included a reported PBS Frontline interview and passages attributed to Stephanopoulos’s memoir, All Too Human: A Political Education, where critics say he described a strategy that framed GOP tactics as “blackmail” and likened them to being “basically terrorists.”
Media accounts and source citations
The exchange was widely reported. Outlets emphasizing the quote and the confrontation included Fox News, NewsBusters, The Daily Signal, The Daily Beast, and an AOL summary. The Daily Beast highlighted the heated tone and overlapping speech during the debate.
Why the wording matters
The term “terrorist” in this context is rhetorical and symbolic. Stephanopoulos’s reported phrasing described a messaging tactic — using strong metaphors to portray hardball tactics as blackmail — not an allegation of literal violent action. Still, the choice of words matters politically.
Critics argue such metaphors reveal a willingness to deploy extreme framing against opponents; supporters counter that forceful language is sometimes used in high-stakes partisan conflict to mobilize public opinion.
Bessent’s larger point on current politics
Bessent framed the confrontation within the present government funding fight, arguing Democrats could reopen the government if a small group of moderate Democratic senators crossed the aisle. He accused some Democrats of keeping the government closed for political gain — using the historical wording as an argument about present-day hypocrisy.
Implications for Fresno, California
Economic impact: A federal shutdown affects Fresno-area federal workers, contractors and services. Local employees who rely on timely paychecks, Social Security processing, or agricultural support programs could see delays that ripple through the Fresno economy.
Political consequences: The national exchange can shape local messaging. Fresno voters may hear renewed arguments about federal responsibility versus political brinkmanship, influencing campaign themes and incumbent defenses.
Social effects: Families depending on federal programs — SNAP, veterans’ services, disaster assistance — can be directly affected. Short interruptions increase uncertainty and pressure local nonprofits and food banks to fill gaps.
Cultural relevance: Fresno’s political culture often emphasizes practical problem solving. While the “GOP terrorists” debate may seem remote to residents focused on jobs, water and housing, it can still influence tone and public conversation locally.
Practical applications for residents: Monitor national developments and local guidance. Beneficiaries should check official agency updates; voters may press candidates for plans to prevent prolonged closures affecting the Central Valley economy.
Reporting limits and source transparency
This article compiles contemporaneous reports of the This Week segment and accounts that cite Stephanopoulos’s retrospective interviews and writing. The specific quote about calling opponents “basically terrorists” is reported across those sources as coming from a PBS Frontline interview and from Stephanopoulos’s memoir, All Too Human. Readers seeking full context should consult those primary sources directly.
Sources
- Fox News: Scott Bessent confronts George Stephanopoulos
- Fox News video clip
- NewsBusters
- The Daily Signal
- The Daily Beast
- AOL report
Reporting compiled from the cited accounts of the This Week appearance and historical sources on the 1995 government shutdown.
