Treasury Secretary Summoned to White House Amid Iran Conflict

Bessent pulled from interview to meet with President Trump on financial fallout of Iran war

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:12am

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President Trump ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was in the middle of a media interview, to the White House Situation Room as the administration deals with the financial fallout of the ongoing conflict with Iran. Bessent, 63, was speaking with Sky News' Wilfred Frost when an aide interrupted and told him the president wanted him immediately. Bessent returned nearly two hours later, revealing he discussed a 'plethora of things' with Trump, including the possibility of the U.S. Navy escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to address Iran's chokehold on the crucial shipping lane.

Why it matters

The sudden summoning of the Treasury Secretary underscores the high-stakes nature of the U.S. conflict with Iran and the significant economic implications. Bessent's comments about potential U.S. naval escorts through the Strait of Hormuz suggest the administration is considering aggressive steps to counter Iran's efforts to disrupt global energy markets.

The details

Bessent was in the middle of an interview with Sky News' Wilfred Frost inside the Treasury Department's Cash Room when an aide interrupted roughly 13 minutes into the conversation, telling Bessent the president wanted him 'right away.' Bessent left the building at 10:22 a.m. and returned nearly two hours later. He revealed he discussed a 'plethora of things' with President Trump, including the possibility of the U.S. Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz to address Iran's chokehold on the crucial shipping lane.

  • Bessent left the building at 10:22 a.m. on March 12, 2026.
  • Bessent returned to the Treasury Department nearly two hours later.

The players

Scott Bessent

The 63-year-old Treasury Secretary who was summoned to the White House Situation Room by President Trump.

President Donald Trump

The President of the United States who ordered Treasury Secretary Bessent to the White House.

Wilfred Frost

The Sky News journalist who was interviewing Treasury Secretary Bessent when he was summoned to the White House.

Chris Wright

The U.S. Energy Secretary who addressed the possibility of U.S. naval escorts through the Strait of Hormuz.

Mojtaba Khamenei

The newly appointed supreme leader of Iran.

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What they’re saying

“The President is in great spirits, the Iranian mission is proceeding well ahead of schedule.”

— Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary (Sky News)

“I can give this team my highest compliment from President Trump, to the head of the Joint Chiefs, to the Secretary of War. I would trust my child's life in their hands.”

— Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary (Sky News)

“My belief is that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through.”

— Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary (Sky News)

“It'll happen relatively soon, but it can't happen now. We're simply not ready. All of our military assets right now are focused on destroying Iran's offensive capabilities and the manufacturing industry that supplies their offensive capabilities.”

— Chris Wright, Energy Secretary (CNBC)

What’s next

The U.S. is considering deploying the Navy to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, but officials say the military is not yet ready to undertake that mission as it remains focused on degrading Iran's offensive capabilities.

The takeaway

The sudden summoning of the Treasury Secretary to the White House underscores the high-stakes nature of the U.S. conflict with Iran and the significant economic implications. The administration is weighing aggressive steps, including potential naval escorts, to counter Iran's efforts to disrupt global energy markets, but officials caution the military is not yet prepared to take on that mission.