{"id":2607984,"date":"2026-05-28T16:59:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T20:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scott-bessent-blast-newsoms-tax-on-anti-weaponization-fund\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T17:01:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T21:01:00","slug":"scott-bessent-blast-newsoms-tax-on-anti-weaponization-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scott-bessent-blast-newsoms-tax-on-anti-weaponization-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Scott Bessent blast Newsom&#8217;s tax on anti-weaponization fund"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fscott-bessent-blast-newsoms-tax-on-anti-weaponization-fund%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2607984&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>treasury Secretary scott Bessent dismissed California Gov. Gavin Newsom\u2019s threat to impose a 100% tax on payouts from the DOJ\u2019s nearly $1.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cassidy-doesnt-regret-trump-impeachment-vote-after-primary-loss\/\" title=\"Cassidy doesn&#039;t regret Trump impeachment vote after primary loss\">8 billion \u201canti-weaponization fund<\/a>.\u201d Newsom said on X that Californians who accept money tied to alleged Trump-related \u201cJanuary 6 slush fund\u201d distributions would face the punitive tax.<\/p>\n<p>Bessent made the remark during a Thursday press briefing while standing in for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave. The fund was announced earlier this month as part of a settlement involving Trump\u2019s lawsuit against the IRS over <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >leaked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-senate-republicans-demand-justice-department-probe-into-tax-disclosures\/\" title=\"Top Senate Republicans Demand Justice Department Probe Into Tax Disclosures\">confidential tax records<\/a><\/a>, and it has drawn bipartisan criticism-particularly concerns that any compensation could reach individuals who assaulted police during the Jan.6 Capitol riot.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treasury Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/scott-bessent\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11700\">Scott Bessent<\/a> rebuffed Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1426\">Gavin Newsom\u2019s<\/a> (D-CA) threat to tax the nearly $1.8 billion \u201canti-weaponization fund\u201d with a simple response during a Thursday afternoon press briefing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere is no cure for stupid,\u201d Bessent told reporters when asked to respond to Newsom\u2019s threat. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4584819\/janeese-lewis-george-backs-safe-drug-injection-site-dc\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Janeese Lewis George backs safe injection sites in DC for drug use<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4583204\/spencer-pratt-may-be-answer-joe-concha\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Spencer Pratt may be the answer: Joe Concha<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4577833\/rising-gas-prices-gop-poll\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rising gas prices are causing voters to reconsider voting for GOP: Poll<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The California governor and possible 2028 presidential candidate announced on Wednesday that anyone from California who accepts the funds will be taxed 100%.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you get a payout from Trump\u2019s January 6 slush fund, California will tax it at 100%,\u201d he wrote on X. \u201cPeople who assault cops and overthrow democracy don\u2019t deserve a taxpayer-funded payday.\u201d <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">If you get a payout from Trump\u2019s January 6 slush fund, California will tax it at 100%.<\/p>\n<p>People who assault cops and overthrow democracy don\u2019t deserve a taxpayer-funded payday. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GIy6wANJkK\">pic.twitter.com\/GIy6wANJkK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GavinNewsom\/status\/2059763379838013900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 27, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier this month, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> announced the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4572715\/doj-announces-anti-weaponization-fund-biden-lawfare\/\">$1.776 billion \u201canti-weaponization fund\u201d<\/a> that could help compensate Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot defendants\u00a0as part of a settlement resolving Trump\u2019s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his confidential tax records.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4530307\/freedom-250-ufc-fight-white-house\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4530307\/freedom-250-ufc-fight-white-house\/\">WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FREEDOM 250 UFC FIGHT ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The announcement has spurred bipartisan concern, with Democrats branding it a \u201cslush fund\u201d for Trump\u2019s allies and lawmakers expressing concern that payouts could go to individuals who assaulted police officers during the riot. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tom-suozzi\/\">Tom Suozzi<\/a> (D-NY) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4578449\/suozzi-fitzpatrick-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\/\">introduced legislation<\/a> last week to kill the fund.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bessent is filling in for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave for her second child. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance have previously filled in for Leavitt until she returns to work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bessent dismissed Newsom\u2019s threat to tax the $1.8B fund, saying: \u201cThere is no cure for stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2658,"featured_media":2607985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26148674009232.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[80011,32742,36160,48678,38341],"class_list":["post-2607984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-anti-weaponization-fund","tag-gavin-newsom","tag-political-controversy","tag-scott-bessent","tag-tax-policy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26148674009232.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2607984"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2607988,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607984\/revisions\/2607988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2607985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2607984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2607984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2607984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}