Walz Too Chicken to Face the Music at His Own Capitol [WATCH]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sharply criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz during an exchange with journalist Christopher Rufo, accusing the governor of refusing to guarantee basic security protections and suggesting Walz is attempting to avoid scrutiny tied to an ongoing investigation.

The remarks came after an interview originally planned to take place at the Minnesota State Capitol was moved.

Rufo opened the discussion by asking why the location had changed.

“But one curious detail this interview was originally scheduled for the Minnesota State Capitol. Can you explain why that didn’t come to pass and why we’re here?” Rufo asked.

Bessent responded by placing the blame squarely on Walz, accusing him of failing to provide police protection for a sitting Cabinet official.

“For one reason, Chris. Tim Walz is a coward. He is a coward,” Bessent said.

“He would not guarantee that the Treasury Secretary of the United States of America would have police protection in the Minnesota State Capitol.”

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Bessent said the refusal reflected fear rather than logistics, arguing that Walz is attempting to shield himself from accountability.

“He’s afraid of what is coming, and he’s not going to be able to hide behind this curtain, because we will get there,” Bessent said.

“And I don’t have to go in the Capitol Building to investigate him.”

Bessent said he would welcome Walz appearing at the Treasury Department instead, offering what he described as a safe and controlled environment for questioning.

“I would love for him to come to Treasury and answer some questions, I can guarantee you that he will be safe and sound,” Bessent said.

He added that the outcome of any inquiry could have lasting implications for Walz.

“Then, depending on what we discover, I don’t know about his future,” Bessent said.

“And as I said earlier, that will be the only view of the oval office he ever gets.”

Bessent also broadened his criticism to the national media landscape, arguing that the circumstances surrounding Walz reflect deeper failures in journalism.

“Because let’s just think about the long arc of history,” Bessent said.

“The suppression of this story is this guy got to within one could have been one heartbeat away from being president United States.”

He argued that the lack of sustained coverage is a consequence of what he described as a collapsed mainstream press.

“And when we don’t have a functioning mainstream media,” Bessent said, “and great independent journalists like you, citizen journalists who go out and do the investing investigative work, because the people who are supposed to be doing it don’t do it anymore.”

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