Scott Bessent clearly shaken after getting confronted on Trump’s ‘A+++’ economy as Americans struggle

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent found himself under pressure during a tense Senate Finance Committee hearing after Sen. Raphael Warnock confronted him over President Donald Trump’s glowing assessment of the U.S. economy — and the much harsher grade many Americans appear to be giving it.

Warnock opened the exchange by pointing to Trump’s own words.

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“President Trump has said that his grade of the economy, his words, is ‘[A] plus plus plus plus plus,’” Warnock said (1).

Then he turned to Bessent.

“Given all of the challenges facing ordinary Americans, our political differences aside, what grade would you give the U.S. economy right now?” Warnock asked.

Bessent pushed back by asking which challenges Warnock was referring to, “other than temporarily elevated prices.”

Warnock did not let him off the hook.

“I’m asking you, what grade would you give the economy?” he said.

Bessent responded that the U.S. has “the makings of one of the strongest economies in history,” citing 2.6% growth and lower core inflation.

But Warnock pressed again, asking whether Bessent agreed with Trump’s “A plus, plus, plus, plus plus” assessment.

Bessent stopped short of giving a direct letter grade, stating, “I think we have all the makings for a very strong economy. I think that we have temporarily elevated prices. We’ll come back down.”

That answer gave Warnock the opening he wanted.

“So, you’re telling Americans it’s not so bad,” Warnock said. “Americans give the Trump economy a failing grade. You and I can disagree, but this is not about us. They give the economy a failing grade because they can’t afford anything.”

The Georgia Democrat then pointed to the squeeze facing households in his state, saying families are struggling “to just make their lives work.”

The exchange grew even sharper when Warnock turned to the national debt.

He said debt held by the public has climbed above $31 trillion and argued that Trump’s “big ugly bill” — pointing at last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act — would add nearly $5 trillion more to the national debt.

“Do you still think that driving deeper into debt to extend billionaire tax cuts were a good investment?” Warnock asked.

Bessent responded by defending Trump’s tax policies, saying many of those who benefited from the president’s signature policies make below $100,000. He also blamed the Biden administration for “real negative wage growth.”

Warnock cut in.

“Sir, I’m asking you a basic question,” he said. “Do you think that going into debt to extend billionaire tax cuts was a good investment? Yes or no?”

The clash captured a broader divide in Washington: The administration is touting growth and lower inflation trends, while many households are still feeling pressured by prices that remain far higher than they were just a few years ago.

And for investors, that tension matters.

When voters say the economy feels bad even as officials insist the numbers look strong, it usually points to one problem: purchasing power.

Paychecks may rise. Markets may rally. Politicians may point to headline data. But if groceries, gas, housing, insurance and interest costs keep eating away at household budgets, Americans can still feel poorer.

The blunt reality is that inflation has been steadily eroding Americans’ purchasing power for decades — no matter who sits in the White House. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (2), $100 in 2026 has the same purchasing power as just $11.74 did in 1970.

That is why many investors are looking for ways to protect their wealth from economic uncertainty and inflation.

Here are three ways to painproof your nest egg.

Own a classic safe haven

When it comes to preserving wealth and fighting inflation, few assets have stood the test of time like gold.

Its appeal is simple: Unlike fiat currencies, the yellow metal can’t be printed at will by central banks.

Gold is also considered the ultimate safe haven. It’s not tied to any one country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to it — driving prices higher.

Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has repeatedly highlighted gold’s role in a resilient portfolio.

“People don’t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC last year. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”

Over the past five years, as inflation continued to chip away at the purchasing power of the dollar, gold has climbed by over 127% as of mid-June (3).

Other prominent voices see further potential. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has said that in this environment, gold can “easily” rise to $10,000 an ounce.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an option for those looking to help shield their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

When you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold, you can receive up to $10,000 in precious metals for free. Just keep in mind that gold is typically best used as one part of a well-diversified portfolio.

Diversify with an income-producing shield

If inflation keeps eating away at the value of cash, investors may want exposure to assets that can rise with the cost of living.

That is where real estate comes in.

When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.

Over the past ten years, the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has jumped by 88% (4), reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply.

Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn’t exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns).

The good news? You don’t need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today. Mogul is a crowdfunding platform that offers an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

As a real estate investment option offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, it gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 a.m. tenant calls.

Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. In other words, you gain access to institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.

Each property undergoes a rigorous vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.

But this is only one vertical from the real estate sector. Other options also exist, especially for investors with capital on hand.

Another path is Lightstone DIRECT, which gives accredited investors access to single-asset multifamily and industrial deals.

Lightstone DIRECT’s direct-to-investor model ensures a high degree of alignment between individual investors and a vertically-integrated, institutional owner-operator — a sophisticated and streamlined option for individual investors looking to diversify into private-market real estate.

With Lightstone DIRECT, accredited individuals can access the same multifamily and industrial assets Lightstone pursues with its own capital, with minimum investments starting at $100,000.

Work with an expert

When the economy feels uncertain, wealthy families rarely try to navigate it alone.

They get help.

Financial advisors are often the quiet advantage behind high-net-worth households. They help investors think beyond the next headline and build a plan around taxes, retirement, income, risk, inflation and long-term wealth preservation.

That kind of guidance can become especially valuable when inflation is high, interest rates are uncertain and Washington is adding more debt.

A good advisor can help investors answer the questions that matter most: How much cash is too much? Should I own more hard assets? Am I taking too much stock-market risk? Is my retirement plan still on track? Are there smarter ways to manage taxes? Am I protected if inflation stays higher for longer?

If you have a portfolio of $250,000 or more, platforms like WiserAdvisor can connect you with vetted professionals who specialize in this kind of planning.

Simply answer a few questions about your savings, retirement timeline and overall investment portfolio.

From there, WiserAdvisor reviews its network to match you — for free — with up to three vetted, reputable advisors aligned with your specific needs.

You can then schedule no-obligation consultations with your matches to determine who is the best fit for your long-term goals.

WiserAdvisor is a matching service and does not provide financial advice directly. All matched advisors are third parties, and specific financial results are not guaranteed.

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