Scott Bessent
Role at the time: U.S. treasury secretary
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Bessent said the Graham Act gives Trump flexibility and 60 days to assess the situation, and argued that European countries should share the burden of pressuring Russia.
“President Trump has made it clear he wants the killing to stop. And the so-called Graham bill gives the president the flexibility, gives him 60 days to assess the situation.”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)Meet the Press - October 18, 2026 · NBC NewsLankford and Bessent interview segments
NBC News transcript of the October 18 broadcast, with interviews of Sen. James Lankford, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent by Kristen Welker.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The reference point is Trump's waiver of the Graham Act Russia measures. Bessent defends the waiver as a use of the law's flexibility and says no sanctions were lifted.