Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday sharply criticized Democrats, arguing that inflammatory political rhetoric is putting President Donald Trump’s life at risk following a deadly security breach at Mar-a-Lago.
Bessent’s comments came just hours after authorities said a 21-year-old armed man entered the security perimeter at Trump’s Palm Beach estate before being shot and killed by law enforcement.
Appearing on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News, Bessent told anchor Maria Bartiromo that the political climate has grown dangerously heated.
“They are normalizing this violence. It’s gotta stop,” Bessent said.
Moments later, he doubled down. “This venom from the left really has to stop. They normalize this violence,” he said, placing blame squarely on Democratic rhetoric that he believes is escalating tensions.
Bessent specifically called out a new campaign advertisement from Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, a Democrat. The ad features several individuals using profanity directed at Trump, with Stratton declaring she is “not scared of a wannabe dictator” and announcing her Senate run as an effort to “stand up to Donald Trump.” Stratton also says in the ad that she plans on holding Trump “accountable for the crimes he’s committed.”
The treasury secretary described the ad as “profane” and said “that kind of venom” contributes to a climate that normalizes violence.
His remarks coincided with new details emerging about the Mar-a-Lago incident. Authorities identified the man who breached the property as Austin Tucker Martin, 21. According to the sheriff of Palm Beach County, Martin entered the property carrying a shotgun and a gas canister and aimed his weapon at officers before being shot and killed.
Bessent pointed to the incident as part of a troubling pattern. “That makes two would-be assassins dead,” he said, referencing Thomas Crooks, who shot Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024. During that attack, Crooks fired the bullet that struck Trump’s ear and killed Corey Comperatore.
Bessent also noted that another individual is currently behind bars for attempting to kill the president. Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month for trying to attack Trump at his golf club in West Palm Beach in 2024.
Taken together, Bessent suggested the repeated threats underscore a dangerous environment fueled by heated political language. While he said the Secret Service appears to be operating at a much higher level compared to 2024, he emphasized that no president or family should have to face repeated attempts on their lives.
Trump and his family “shouldn’t have to endure attempt after attempt” on his life, Bessent told Bartiromo.
The treasury secretary’s forceful remarks highlight growing concerns among Trump allies that political rhetoric has crossed a line, contributing to an atmosphere that, in their view, risks inspiring real-world violence.
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