Scott Bessent blasts left’s political ‘venom’ after Mar-a-Lago security breach: ‘It’s got to stop’
Secretary Bessent says he spoke to President Trump in the wake of the Mar‑a‑Lago shooting.
— Overton (@overton_news) February 22, 2026
Bessent says the venom coming from the left has to STOP.
He’s now calling for the Democrat Senate commercial in Illinois attacking Trump to be TAKEN OFF THE AIR.
BESSENT: “I just spoke… pic.twitter.com/1wlWK03SPI
WASHINGTON, DC: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slammed the opposition for their rhetoric after an armed intruder was shot at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on Sunday, February 22.
Bessent blamed the left's aggressive language for the attack, stating that “the venom coming from the other side” must stop and calling for a controversial campaign ad in Illinois to be pulled from the air.
Scott Bessent urges end to violent rhetoric
After speaking with President Trump on February 22, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed deep concern over the level of political tension in the country, confirming that Trump had fortunately spent the night in DC while hosting the National Governors Conference.
Bessent argued that aggressive language from the opposition is dangerous and must end immediately.
He pointed to a specific Senate campaign commercial in Illinois as a primary example of this toxic environment. “Two would-be assassins dead, one in jail for life, and this venom coming from the other side… they are normalizing this violence,” Bessent said during his interview.
“I would call for them to take that down. Take that down, because it is that kind of venom that… we don’t know whether this person was a mastermind, unhinged or what, but they are normalizing taking this violence. It’s got to stop,” he added.
Furthermore, Secretary Bessent lauded the Secret Service for its swift response in keeping the president and his family safe. “I want to congratulate Sean Curran and the Secret Service for protecting the president and his family,” Bessent said.
FBI is dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation of this morning’s incident at President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago - where an armed individual was shot and killed after unlawfully entering the perimeter. We will continue working closely with @SecretService as well our…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) February 22, 2026
Suspect killed after aiming shotgun at officers
The incident took place around 1:30 am on Sunday, February 22, at the Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. A 21-year-old man from North Carolina, identified as Austin Tucker Martin, drove into a secure area of the property.
He was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can. President Trump and his family were in Washington at the time of the incident. Two Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy quickly confronted the man and told him to drop what he was carrying.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw explained that the man put down the fuel can but then pointed his shotgun at the officers. “He put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw said.
“At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat.” The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and no officers were injured.
