CODEPINK activists interrupted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent while he dined at Reveler’s Hour in Washington, D.C., accusing him of overseeing sanctions they say cause widespread suffering. Activist Olivia DiNucci mockingly toasted Bessent and cited a Lancet estimate of roughly 564,000 annual deaths linked to unilateral sanctions; she also said as many as 600,000 deaths occur each year. Bessent called the protesters "ignorant" and left after reportedly confronting staff; the incident took place shortly before President Trump’s televised address.
CODEPINK Confronts Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at D.C. Restaurant, Accusing Him of 'Blood on Your Hands'
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was confronted by CODEPINK protesters while eating dinner Wednesday at a Washington D.C., restaurant.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was publicly confronted by activists from CODEPINK while dining Wednesday night at Reveler’s Hour in Washington, D.C. Protesters accused him of overseeing sanctions they say amount to "economic warfare" with serious humanitarian consequences.
Olivia DiNucci, a CODEPINK member, stood and mockingly proposed a toast directed at Bessent, drawing the attention of other patrons.
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"We want to make an announcement! We have a special guest here, and we want to make a toast for the Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent! ... the man who is eating in peace as people starve across the world based on his sanctions, which are economic warfare."
DiNucci also said, "He oversees the deaths of 600,000 people due to sanctions annually," and asked, "How many people are going to die because of the blood that's on your hands?" A chorus of boos erupted in the restaurant, though it was not clear whether diners were directing their derision at the protesters or at Bessent.
The activists cited a study published in The Lancet that estimates roughly 564,000 deaths each year linked to unilateral sanctions due to worsened food insecurity, disease and loss of essential services. That figure was cited by protesters; this article reports the claim and the source cited rather than independently verifying the study's conclusions.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced additional crackdowns in Minnesota as the department investigates sweeping fraud claims.
Bessent, seated in a corner, responded by raising his glass and saying,
"You are ignorant, and you have no idea how ignorant you are."CODEPINK said he confronted restaurant staff and left the establishment soon after.
The interruption occurred shortly before President Donald Trump delivered a nationally televised address highlighting his administration's accomplishments. Fox News Digital reached out to the Treasury Department for comment.
This episode follows a reported September incident in which Bessent allegedly threatened to "punch" top housing finance official Bill Pulte during a private dinner attended by administration officials and advisers — a report that drew attention to earlier tensions involving the secretary.
The encounter at Reveler’s Hour underlines ongoing clashes between activists who argue sanctions cause humanitarian harm and officials who defend sanctions as tools of foreign policy.
