Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stumped Democratic California Rep. Judy Chu with a question about basic U.S. history.

Bessent and Chu clashed during the House Ways and Means Committee hearing Thursday. 

“Recently, President Trump proudly claimed that he doesn’t think about Americans’ financial situation when it comes to the war with Iran,” said Chu. “So I want to ask you, Secretary Bessent, do you agree with President Trump, that you also do not care about Americans’ financial situation?”

“Congresswoman, who was the president during World War I?” Bessent asked.

The room went silent. Bessent repeated his question after Chu protested.

“I don’t know, but, clearly you are not answering my question,” Chu answered.

SEC. BESSENT: “Who was the president during World War I?”

REP. JUDY CHU : “I don’t know.” pic.twitter.com/jxl6e2k5sL

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 4, 2026

Bessent then kindly provided Chu with the correct answer to his question.

“I will promise you that President Woodrow Wilson, who was president during World War I, that the Germans did not attack us … and I guarantee you, President Woodrow Wilson felt the same thing, congresswoman,” Bessent said. (RELATED: Five Moments Proving Scott Bessent Is The Sassiest Trump Official We Need In Washington) 

Bessent is formidable. It’s almost unfair to set him against Chu, as it would be unfair to expect a hamster to hold its own against a tiger. 

Chu was born and raised in Los Angeles. She is 72-years-old, meaning that when she was a child, there were many World War I veterans alive. And many non-combatants who surely remembered living during World War I. Regardless, Bessent was not quizzing Chu on some obscure factoid. There is no reason Chu should be ignorant of basic U.S. history, except for lack of interest or lack of intelligence. Both are fairly unattractive in an elected representative.