'The president wants you': Scott Bessent pulled from live TV for Donald Trump’s Iran war briefing | Watch

Trump summons Bessent mid-interview during Iran war

Scott Bessent abruptly paused a live television interview on Thursday after receiving an urgent call from Donald Trump summoning him to the White House Situation Room as the conflict with Iran continued to unfold.

Bessent, 63, had been speaking with Sky News presenter Wilfred Frost during a sit-down interview at the White House when an aide approached and quietly informed him: “The President wants you right away.”

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was abruptly pulled from a live interview after being told “the President wants you right away.” After returning, his voice was noticeably shaken. pic.twitter.com/jx5CamFi03

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 13, 2026

The Treasury Secretary was seen removing his microphone and excusing himself from the broadcast. The interruption occurred at around 10.22am. Frost then had to wait for nearly two hours before Bessent returned to continue the conversation.

When he rejoined the interview, Bessent appeared visibly shaken and at times struggled to maintain his composure. Asked by Frost how Trump was coping and whether the US president was under stress, Bessent replied: “The President is in great spirits. The Iranian mission is proceeding well ahead of schedule.”

During the exchange, Bessent also spoke highly of Trump and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Reflecting on his own family, he mentioned his teenage child, who he said was considering a future in military service.

“I would trust my child’s life in their hands,” Bessent said, referring to Trump and Hegseth.

Throughout his response, his voice appeared unsteady, and he remained guarded when pressed about developments in Iran during the remainder of the interview.

Bessent, who is the first openly gay person to lead the United States Department of the Treasury, has two children — Cole and Caroline — born through surrogacy with his husband, John Freeman.