‘The president wants you right away’ [WATCH]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was abruptly pulled from a recorded interview at the Treasury Department after receiving an urgent message that President Donald Trump wanted him in the White House Situation Room, according to video shared by Sky News.

Bessent, 63, had been speaking with Sky News host Wilfred Frost for “The Master Investor Podcast” inside the Treasury Department’s historic Cash Room when an aide interrupted roughly 13 minutes into the conversation, as reported by The New York Post.

“The president wants you right away,” the aide told Bessent from off-camera, according to the clip posted on X by the outlet.

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The sudden interruption ended the interview mid-conversation.

A microphone was removed from Bessent’s jacket as he exited the building at approximately 10:22 a.m., according to the outlet’s timestamp. Bessent returned nearly two hours later after meeting with President Trump and other officials.

Following the meeting, Bessent provided a brief description of the discussion, saying the conversation with the president involved a wide range of topics.

Bessent said he discussed a “plethora of things” during the meeting.

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During the interview with Frost, the discussion turned to the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the financial impact of the war.

The conflict began Feb. 28 when the United States launched Operation Epic Fury as part of a broader joint operation with Israel that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Frost also asked Bessent about President Trump’s mood after the urgent request that pulled the Treasury secretary away from the interview and across Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

“The President is in great spirits, the Iranian mission is proceeding well ahead of schedule,” Bessent said.

Bessent also referenced the administration’s confidence in the leadership directing the military operation.

“I can give this team my highest compliment from President Trump, to the head of the Joint Chiefs, to the Secretary of War. I would trust my child’s life in their hands,” he said.

Watch the moment a call from the White House situation room interrupts U.S. treasury secretary Scott Bessent’s interview with Sky’s @WilfredFrost ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/4XNNvRuHJX

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 12, 2026

The conversation also touched on economic indicators during the conflict. Frost noted that the U.S. dollar recently surged to a high earlier in the week, even as other financial indicators faced pressure related to the war.

Part of the economic pressure in global markets stems from the Iranian regime’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route in the Persian Gulf.

Iran’s leadership, now under newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, has restricted activity in the strait in what the regime described as a move to pressure its adversaries.

Bessent said the United States may escort international ships through the strategic waterway once the threat of Iranian attacks is removed.

“My belief is that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through,” he said.

U.S. officials had been concerned Iran might deploy underwater mines in an attempt to block the shipping lanes, but Bessent said there is no evidence the strait has been mined.

“There are, in fact, tankers coming through now, Iranian tankers, I believe some Chinese-flag tankers have come through. So we know that they have not mined the straits,” Bessent said.

Bessent declined to confirm whether the possibility of naval escorts was part of the discussion during the meeting with President Trump.

“Your words, not mine,” he said.

He also revealed the military operation has already cost the United States roughly $11 billion, adding that President Trump views the mission as necessary despite the price tag.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright later addressed the possibility of naval escorts for commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking with CNBC, Wright confirmed that discussions are underway but said the effort is not yet ready to begin.

“It’ll happen relatively soon, but it can’t happen now,” Wright said.

“We’re simply not ready. All of our military assets right now are focused on destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities and the manufacturing industry that supplies their offensive capabilities,” Wright said.

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