'Those aren't actual deals': ABC host busts treasury secretary on Trump's trade 'deals'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Raw Story

April 27, 2025 10:27AM ET


ABC News host Martha Raddatz challenged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after President Donald Trump claimed that he had made 200 trade deals in his first 100 days in office.

"He said that he has made 200 deals on tariffs. 200 deals?" Raddatz told the secretary on Sunday. "Who has he made deals with? Is there actually any deal at this point?" "I believe that he is referring to sub-deals within the negotiations we're doing," Bessent replied.

"But those aren't actual deals," Raddatz pointed out.

"Martha, if there are 180 countries, there are 18 important trading partners," the Trump official opined.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/scott-bessent-trump-deals/

[underpants]

1. In his mind "Because the deal is a deal that I choose."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20269294

Can you share with whom?

Because the deal is a deal that I choose. View it differently: We are a department store, and we set the price.

[underpants]

2. There are only 195 countries in the world(including the Vatican and Palestine)

Countries in the World:
There are 195 countries in the world today. This total comprises 193 countries that are member states of the United Nations and 2 countries that are non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine.

[Irish_Dem]

3. His "sub-deal" crap was priceless.

They are not DEALS.
They are SUB DEALS.

[paleotn]

5. Probably not even sub deals.

The Sec Treasury won't publicly say his boss is full of shit, even when it's obvious he's full of shit. So he resorts to semantics and hand waving.

[Irish_Dem]

20. Sub deals translation: Figment of Trump's imagination

I know it was hilarious to watch this guy twist like a pretzel.

[GB_RN]

28. Agreed

They are fragments of a concept, of a thought of an idea of a dream of a plan of a deal. Plain English: Vaporware.

[marked50]

8. Maybe he meant Submarine Deals.

We need more Subs and Sub Parts. Or we can sell more Subs and Parts. Or maybe these deals are just "underwater".

[Irish_Dem]

21. Trump would think a sub deal is discount on his lunch sandwich.

[marked50]

22. Eureka! That's it. Yeah, that's the trick...n/t

[LuvLoogie]

9. Now THAT"S a deal!

[Amaryllis]

19. Kinda like a concept of a plan?

[Bluetus]

27. They are counting as deals, for example:

"So, it is agreed that my undersecretary will meet for lunch with your undersecretary Thursday at 11AM?"

"Yes, that is agreed. We have a deal."

"And can we agree they will not have fewer than 2 martinis but not more than 5?"

"Yes, again, we agree, That is another deal."

"Wonderful. We are making good progress here."

[Irish_Dem]

31. Comedy Gold. Yes when to meet, where to have lunch, how many drinks.

These are all deals.

[Doodley]

4. It is absolute BS to make Trump look better and to make the stock market look better.

[NickB79]

6. He has concepts of a deal

[BOSSHOG]

7. I "believe" he is referring to "subsets."

So the treasury sec doesn’t know what the fuck the president is talking about. My amateur guess is they’re both lying in tandem. Lies. They are the basis of all conservative speak. Meanwhile the pain is coming THANKS TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.”

[unblock]

10. even when the media calls them out for lying, they do so in a way that's pretty harmless

i mean, i guess kudos to them for pointing out that the number of deals is incorrect, but this is way too gentle.

it's done in such a way that does little to nothing to deter future lying. arguably, it still rewards the lying. when all you do is counter the lie with the truth, some -- maybe even most -- leave believing the truth, but more than a few will believe the lie, especially if it gets repeated, which is something you can count on republicans to do.

the news story here is that they lied. they advanced a deliberately grossly misleading number. this demands a follow-up.

"why would you lie?"

"don't you worry about your credibility?"

"why should we believe you?"

"is everything else you said a lie?"

ok, yeah, i get that some of these a bit much for standard journalism, but the point is, they lie with impunity, repeatedly, because they're never punished for it, and usually quite well rewarded.

the msm made a staple of ripping into clinton for lying about monica, and al gore for supposedly "lying" about the internet. they can certainly be harsh and punitive on political figures when they want. when they're democrats, of course....

[AZJonnie]

13. +1,000,000

This, absolutely!

[maxrandb]

11. If he impose unilateral tariffs and then backs off

He defines that as a "deal".

Yes, that's how stupid he "knows" his MAGAt dipshits are.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. Letters of intent and memorandums of understanding are not deals. Nor was tRump's 2018 FoxConn "deal" in Wisconsin. . nt

[yellow dahlia]

14. I find Scott Bessent offensive every time he speaks.

He creeps me out.

Why is he supposedly respected in the business community?

[patphil]

15. Trump's idea of a deal is like when two people decide to "do lunch".

[Hope22]

17. ........

And one of them puts money in His bank account!

[BidenRocks]

16. This is Monty Python level gibberish!

No it isn't, yes it is, ....

[IbogaProject]

18. He has received around 200 bribes

Is the likely explanation.

[lonely bird]

23. He is a liar, period.

And he needs to be called that to his face. Every. Damn. Time.

[IronLionZion]

24. I'm sure he made a great deal with the penguins too

this administration spews BS nonstop despite being called out on it. No evidence whatsoever of any deals.

If it was so super secret, put it on a signal chat and include some journalists.

Maybe they have concepts of a deal.

[Martin68]

25. Glad to see the mass media is pushing back.

[Grammy23]

33. Better yet is what Jimmy Kimmel

and his writers will do with these tidbits! Comedy gold. Just what tRump loves …people laughing at him. 🙄 Kimmel is fearless and just keeps on hammering him. Keep it up, Jimmy. It is saving sanity for the rest of us!

[wolfie001]

26. Port of Seattle a few days ago

We will feel this reverberation by the end of June if not earlier.

[Old Crank]

29. defecating from his face.

[Montauk6]

30. Woulda been 201 if it weren't for those pesky woke penguins

[KG]

32. 'Brawndo has what plants crave! It's got electrolytes'

[Grammy23]

34. How can anyone listen to Bessant

And feel any sense of confidence in this guy? He seems bumbling and unsure of himself. I thought he is supposed to be so good and well respected. For what?