Bessent Divests From Soybean Farms, Says Farmers Needs Federal Aid Despite China Deal

Bessent has referred to himself as a soybean farmer and said that he, too, felt the pain of being caught in the middle of the U.S.–China trade war.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 21, 2025. AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he has divested his soybean farm holdings and acknowledged that, despite China’s commitment to buy more U.S. agricultural products, farmers still need support from the federal government.

“I’m involved in the agriculture industry. I run a soybean farm,” Bessent said on Dec. 7 during an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” program, while discussing the difficult year faced by U.S. farmers after China drastically cut purchases of American agricultural products, particularly corn and soybeans, in retaliation for Trump administration tariffs.