Scott Bessent "confident" U.S.-China trade details "will be ironed out" when Trump, Xi talk
Scott Bessent "confident" U.S.-China trade details "will be ironed out" when Trump, Xi talk

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have a conversation soon amid the tariff standoff, and he’s “confident” the details of a trade agreement “will be ironed out” when they talk.
Read the full article on CBS Politics
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article's factual accuracy is mixed due to the lack of specific details and the reliance on a single source quoting Scott Bessent's confidence in a future trade agreement. While the claim that Trump and Xi would have a conversation is plausible given the context of the trade war at the time, the assertion that details "will be ironed out" is an opinion and cannot be definitively verified without further information. The article exhibits moderate bias by presenting Bessent's optimistic view without offering counterarguments or alternative perspectives.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim 1:** Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have a conversation soon amid the tariff standoff.
- Verification Source: None provided. Internal Knowledge: This is plausible given the context of the US-China trade war during the Trump administration. High-level talks were common.
- Claim 2:** He's "confident" the details of a trade agreement "will be ironed out" when they talk.
- Verification Source: None provided. Internal Knowledge: This is an opinion or prediction, not a verifiable fact. It reflects Bessent's perspective at the time. Whether the details were actually ironed out is a separate question that would require historical analysis of trade agreements following the meeting. The article presents this opinion without offering alternative viewpoints or acknowledging the complexities of trade negotiations.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Due to the lack of provided verification sources, the analysis relies heavily on internal knowledge and general understanding of US-China trade relations during the Trump administration.
- The article presents Bessent's confidence as a statement of fact, which is a form of bias. A more neutral approach would have included alternative perspectives or acknowledged the uncertainties surrounding trade negotiations.