Bessent’s feud with Democrats intensifies as shutdown impasse continues

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s feud with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Mass., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota, has further intensified as politicians fight over a government shutdown.

The feud stems from a letter signed by Warren, Klobuchar and 19 other Democrats accusing the Trump administration of prioritizing Argentina’s interests “over the needs of American farmers and rural communities” and rejecting a proposed $20 billion currency swap with Buenos Aires that Democrats say would prop up U.S. competitors and worsen the hardships of American farmers.

“Instead of prioritizing American farmers and rural communities, the Administration has doubled down on aid to Argentina while family farmers are running out of time and cannot continue to endure short-sighted international actions in lieu of long-term trade stability,” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge you to immediately reconsider any additional aid to Argentina and focus instead on restoring and expanding long-term access to export markets for American farmers.”

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In her latest attack on Klobuchar, Bessent said the shutdown would end when she and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., “finished getting angry” and voted for a continuing resolution.

“The shutdown will end when you and Senator Schumer end your anger and vote for a clean, nonpartisan funding bill. It’s time for you to be a hero, join with your sensible, moderate colleagues, and allow millions of American families to sit side by side around the Thanksgiving table,” Bessent wrote in an X post Friday morning.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks next to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., during a news conference to discuss SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Ch (Kylie Cooper/Reuters/Reuters)

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On Wednesday, Bessent called Warren and Klobuchar “failures” whose aides should “stop writing her incoherent letters” and instead focus on reopening the government.

In a scathing statement referencing President Donald Trump’s trip to Asia and Argentina’s economic recovery, Bessent accused senators of opposing “economic freedom” abroad and harming American farmers at home.

“@SenWarren and @SenAmyKlobuchar: you are failures,” Bessent wrote in a message to

“You have failed to reopen the government, hindering our administration’s efforts to get aid to America’s farmers, as well as our plan to activate the Farm Credit Agency to help our farmers with next year’s crops,” Bessent added.

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (R) and House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) (L) brief members of the press during a news conference on the government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol on October 16, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images/Getty Images)

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In her response to Bessent’s post, Klobuchar joked that she thought the scathing remarks came from a fake account, noting that she and the secretary “have had no public or private personal ‘BEEFS’ (Argentinian or otherwise),” referencing another controversial Trump administration plan.

Proposed imports of Argentine beef have drawn criticism from both sides, with several Republicans from the farming state calling on the president to rely more on U.S. ranchers.

Klobuchar then defended her “very serious and fact-based letter,” saying she was “simply asking if you reconsider the tariff policies and the foreign bailout.”

“And while your announcement today, which reverses just a portion of your own administration’s bad policies, is still helpful, there is still much to be done before these across-the-board tariffs will forever upend rural America’s economy, not to mention become a huge burden in the form of tariffs on all Americans. Either way, let me know when you’re ready to meet to discuss tariffs on 40 percent more expensive coffee,” he added. Klobuchar.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and President Donald Trump attend the White House Digital Assets Summit March 7, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/Getty Images)

The current government shutdown has lasted 31 days and shows no signs of stopping. The longest shutdown in U.S. history occurred under the first Trump administration in 2019 and lasted 35 days. If the government does not reopen by November 5, it will officially be the longest reopening in the country’s history.

Neither Republicans nor Democrats have shown signs that they are willing to change their approach to ending the shutdown.

FOX Business has reached out to Klobuchar and Warren’s offices for comment.