Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) questioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about inflation and President Donald Trump's military action against Iran during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing Thursday, according to initial reports from the Daily Wire. The exchange included sharp exchanges over economic data and U.S. history.
Chu criticized Trump on rising prices and called his recent military action against Iran "illegal." At one point during her questioning about inflation concerns affecting Americans, Bessent interjected with a question of his own: "Congresswoman, who was the president during World War I?"
Chu responded, "I don't know," according to multiple reports. Bessent then explained that Woodrow Wilson led the United States into World War I on principle, even though Germany had not directly attacked America. Bessent suggested there are times when presidents make decisions based on future risks rather than immediate circumstances.
The exchange continued with economic data as Chu cited specific price increases: "beef was up 15%, tomatoes up 40%, and bread and milk up 8% and 5%. She added, according to reports: "I know that would be hard for a billionaire like you to imagine."
Bessent responded with his own figures. He stated: "Food at home is up 2.5% since President Trump took office." He also noted avocado prices were down 19%, and said: "You don't get to pick and choose. It is a basket, and the basket is up 2.5%. During the Biden era, it was 5%."
When Chu argued wages weren't keeping pace with costs, Bessent replied: "I'm afraid you're incorrect. We had real wage increases every month since President Trump took office except for the month of April." He added: "You’re entitled to your opinion, not your own facts," according to reports from the hearing.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators and Republican lawmakers praised Bessent's handling of the exchange, framing it as effective pushback against Democratic criticism. They argue Chu's inability to identify Wilson demonstrated a lack of basic historical knowledge that undermines her credibility on policy questions.
Republicans have highlighted Bessent's specific price data as evidence that economic conditions have improved under Trump compared to the previous administration. Supporters say the exchange illustrates what they describe as Democrats' habit of citing isolated statistics rather than comprehensive economic indicators.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and left-leaning commentators have defended Chu's line of questioning as focused on kitchen-table issues affecting ordinary Americans. They argue that even if the WWI question was a rhetorical maneuver, it doesn't address substantive concerns about grocery prices under the current administration.
Democratic critics note that regardless of historical knowledge, many families continue to struggle with higher food costs compared to pre-pandemic levels. Some Democratic members have pointed to broader economic anxiety among their constituents as justification for aggressive questioning of cabinet officials.
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) criticized Democrats' focus on prices during the Biden years, stating: "In the four years of Joe Biden, we had a 25% increase in prices." He added: "The highest gas prices we've seen in the last decade were under Joe Biden — but my colleagues have gotten amnesia," according to his remarks following the hearing.
What the Numbers Show
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, food at home prices rose approximately 5% during the Biden administration from January 2021 to January 2025. The Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers showed a cumulative increase of roughly 19-20% over that same period.
Gasoline prices reached their highest levels in recent years around mid-2022 under Biden, with national averages exceeding $5 per gallon in some regions before declining substantially by the end of his term.
Real average hourly earnings data from BLS shows wage growth fluctuated during both administrations, with periods of positive and negative real wage growth depending on inflation rates. The specific monthly breakdown cited by Bessent is consistent with publicly available BLS statistics on a seasonally-adjusted basis.
The Bottom Line
The exchange highlights ongoing partisan battles over how to characterize economic conditions under different administrations. Both sides presented selective data from the same underlying economic record, reflecting broader political disagreements about fiscal policy assessment.
Republicans have used such exchanges to argue that their policies better address household costs, while Democrats point to persistent concerns among working-class families about affordability despite official inflation metrics showing improvement.
The hearing occurred amid ongoing congressional oversight of Treasury Department operations and administration economic strategy. Both Chu and Bessent serve in roles with direct influence over tax policy and fiscal matters within their respective branches of government.