In a Wednesday House congressional hearing that was as tense as it was theatrical, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent found himself at the center of a sharp grilling from Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and other Democrats over economic policy, transparency, and access to Treasury Department systems under his leadership. But the hearing opened with an unexpected and awkward personal moment between Bessent and Waters.

“This is the first time we’ve met — is that correct?” Waters asked.