Bessent’s feud with Democrats escalates as shutdown standoff continues

The dispute between Treasury Secretary Scott Besent and Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, has escalated again as politicians battle over a government shutdown.

The dispute stems from a letter signed by Warren, Klobuchar and 19 other Democrats accusing the Trump administration of prioritizing Argentina’s interests “at the expense of the needs of American farmers and rural communities” and criticizing a proposed $20 billion currency swap with Buenos Aires that Democrats say would support American rivals and exacerbate the suffering of American farmers.

“Instead of prioritizing America’s farmers and rural communities, the administration has doubled down on assistance to Argentina when family farmers run out of time and cannot continue to tolerate short-sighted international action rather than long-term trade stability,” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge you to immediately reconsider providing further aid to Argentina and instead focus on restoring and expanding long-term export market access for American farmers.”

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In his latest criticism of Klobuchar, Picent said the shutdown will end when she and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., “end the tantrum” and vote to continue the resolution.

“The shutdown will end when you and senator Schumer finish your tantrum and vote for a clean, nonpartisan funding bill,” Besant wrote in an

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks next to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., during a news conference to discuss SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). (Kylie Cooper/Reuters/Reuters)

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On Wednesday, Besant criticized Warren and Klobuchar as “losers” whose staff should “stop writing incoherent letters” to him and instead focus on reopening the government.

In a scathing statement that referenced President Donald Trump’s trip to Asia and Argentina’s economic transformation, Picente accused the senators of opposing “economic freedom” abroad and hurting American farmers at home.

In a message to

“You have failed to reopen the government, blocking our administration’s efforts to provide assistance to American farmers, as well as the planned activation of the Farm Credit Agency to help our farmers with next year’s crops,” Besant added.

Senate Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (R) and House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) (L) brief members of the press during a news conference on the government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol on October 16, 2025 in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images/Getty Images)

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In her response to Besant’s post, Klobuchar joked that she believed the scathing remarks were from a fake account, noting that she and the secretary “did not have a public or private ‘BEEFS’ (Argentine or otherwise),” referring to another controversial plan by the Trump administration.

The proposed Argentine beef imports have drawn criticism from both parties, with many Republicans in farm states calling on the president to rely more heavily on American ranchers.

Klobuchar then defended her “very serious, fact-based message,” saying she “simply asked if you would reconsider our tariff policies and foreign bailout.”

“While your announcement today to reverse just a portion of your administration’s bad policies is always helpful, there is still a lot to undo before these sweeping tariffs upend the economy of rural America forever, let alone become a massive burden in the form of a tariff tax on all Americans. Anyway, let me know when you’re ready to meet to discuss tariffs on 40% more expensive coffee,” Klobuchar added.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Besent and President Donald Trump look on during the White House Digital Assets Summit on March 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/Getty Images)

The current government shutdown has been going on for 31 days and shows no signs of stopping. The longest shutdown in US history occurred under the first Trump administration in 2019 and lasted 35 days. If the government does not reopen by November 5, it will officially be the longest in the country’s history.

Neither Republicans nor Democrats have shown signs of being willing to budge on their approach to ending the shutdown.

FOX Business has reached out to Klobuchar and Warren’s offices for comment.