Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., went viral Wednesday after a screaming meltdown during a House Financial Services Committee hearing.
Meeks broke down and started yelling at Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for over a minute and accusing him of being President Trump’s “flunky.”
The New York Democrat erupted after Bessent declined to commit to halting the bank charter application for World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company with ties to the Trump family.
Meeks demanded a yes-or-no answer, but wouldn’t listen to Bessent’s detailed response.
“This is no longer just about a shady crypto deal, or a possible gift, when a foreign-linked investor is putting hundreds of millions of dollars into a company controlled by the president’s family; and, at the same time, this president is conducting foreign policy with that country,” Meeks said. “You know what that creates? It creates a national security concern.”
“The [Office of the Comptroller of the Currency] is an independent entity. And I would note, congressman—” Bessent answered.
“I’m asking you to do your responsibility as Secretary of the Treasury,” Meeks shouted.
Bessent then brought up Meeks’ 2006 trip to Venezuela.
“Congressman, in 2006, you traveled to Venezuela to lobby Hugo Chavez on behalf of your donor,” Bessent said.
As Bessent spoke, Meeks continued talking over him by repeating, “I take that as a ‘no.'”
When the Committee Chairman, French Hill, told Meeks his time had expired, the congressman continued yelling.
“He’s the one that went past your time, Mr. Chairman!” Meeks shouted. “He did not answer my question, and he went past the time!”
“He had six seconds left to try to answer your question,” Hill responded.
“It was a yes-or-no…It was a yes-or-no answer! Will he? Yes or no?!” Meeks continued. “Stop covering for the president! Stop being his flunky!”
“You cannot erase what you did in 2006!” Bessent said.
“Stop covering for the president!” Meeks shouted. “Don’t be a flunky! Work for the American people! Work for the American people! Don’t be a cover-up for a mob!”
“Maybe you’re going to see your friend Nicolas Maduro in Brooklyn prison,” Bessent fired back.
The exchange immediately went viral on social media.
🚨 HOLY CRAP! CHAOS as Democrat Rep. Greg Meeks goes BERSERK while Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent gives his testimony
"STOP BEING HIS FLUNKY! You're covering FOR THE PRESIDENT! Don't be a FLUNKY, work for the people!"
"I take that as a NO! You do NOT want to answer the question! I… pic.twitter.com/gjvBlpfD9h
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 4, 2026
Republican Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky later apologized to Bessent during the hearing.
“I think what we’re learning from this hearing, Mr. Secretary, is how much Trump derangement syndrome is a threat to emotional stability,” Barr told Bessent. “There’s been a lot of lectures directed at you today.”