Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defends Paramount's 'Rush Hour 4' deal and criticizes NYT for Trump age story

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly defended corporate leaders aligning with President Donald Trump during his appearance at the New York Times DealBook Summit, specifically highlighting Paramounts commitment to release the upcoming Rush Hour 4. At the same time, he criticized a recent Times article discussing Trumps age.

During a main-stage discussion, moderator Andrew Ross Sorkin asked Bessent whether it was appropriate for Paramount, which is seeking to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery and gain regulatory approval, to move forward with Rush Hour 4. This came after reports that Trump expressed interest in the film series returning to Paramount investor Larry Ellison, whose son serves as Paramounts CEO. The original director, Brett Ratner, had faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and had been largely ostracized from Hollywood since 2017, though he recently announced a documentary project on Melania Trump.

Some see this as a company trying to appease the president, Sorkin remarked. Bessent responded, dismissing the notion that Trump would influence a deal of that magnitude. He compared the situation to agreements made by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama with Netflix, and Hunter Bidens involvement with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, emphasizing the complexity of such arrangements.

These matters are intricate, Bessent said. If we start questioning every detail, we should also examine where Chuck Schumers children work. He suggested Trumps comment about the film might have been casual rather than an exertion of influence.

Bessent then sharply criticized the New York Times for publishing a story questioning the 81-year-old presidents stamina and mental acuity. The New York Times is no longer the paper of record, he said, calling the article completely false.

Sorkin defended the reporting, noting public interest in leaders ages, especially given past criticism over inconsistent coverage of President Joe Bidens age. Bessent countered that Trumps numerous public engagements, including a recent cabinet meeting, demonstrate his capacity, and he likened the Times reporting to other progressive outlets that have focused heavily on the topic.

Author: Maya Henderson