On NBC's Meet the Press, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked about the 3.7% rise in prices last month, the fastest in five months, and whether the administration's policies were to blame. He called it an energy supply shock, said core inflation had stayed flat and had fallen for four months in a row, and predicted prices would ease once the Iran conflict ends, while Kristen Welker countered that gas is up 44% since the war with Iran began. Bessent turned to the Biden era, citing 21.5% inflation against about 17% wage gains, and said real wages have risen 1.5% since Trump took office. Welker noted that inflation was 3% when Trump took office and is now 3.7% after 636 days in office, and Bessent replied that the administration will own the economy, pointing to a million private-sector jobs so far this year.
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