Scott Bessent Catches Maxine Waters Off Guard by Revealing They Met at Party in the Bahamas: ‘You Were Much Better at the Electric Slide’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent caught Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) off guard during a House Financial Services Committee hearing Wednesday when he reminded her that they’d met many years ago at a New Year’s Eve party in the Bahamas.

Bessent is testifying regarding the current state of international financial systems after he openly slammed the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, accusing both institutions of falling short of their intended missions and advocating for reform. His criticism came amid growing economic uncertainty fueled by the president’s recent tariff measures and the ongoing trade dispute with China.

As committee members took turns to level questions and Waters stepped up to bat.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Secretary Bessent, this is the first time we’ve met. Is that correct?” the congresswoman asked.

“No, ma’am. We actually met one New Year’s Eve in the Bahamas,” Bessent said, drawing laughter.

Waters jibed back: “He didn’t make an impression. Why don’t I remember that?”

Dropping some more details from the party, Bessent recalled Waters’s dancing: “Well, you were much better at the electric slide than I was.”

He continued: “And I was with the Prime Minister of the Bahamas yesterday, Prime Minister [Philip] Davis, who sends his regards.”

“Well, were you with my husband when he was ambassador to the Bahamas appointed by [former President Bill] Clinton?” the lawmaker pressed.

Bessent gave a nod.

“Well, you’re not gonna like this,” quipped Waters playfully, preparing to grill Bessent.

“I didn’t remember that,” she added.

Watch above via C-SPAN.