Graham: Bessent would be 'outstanding' as Trump Treasury secretary

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that Key Square Group founder Scott Bessent would be an “outstanding” choice as President-elect Trump’s Treasury secretary. 

“I think he’d be outstanding. He’s from South Carolina, I know him well, he’s highly qualified,” Graham told news outlet Semafor on Thursday. 

“I think he’s been well-vetted,” he added. 

Bessent, a hedge fund manager, has served as an economic adviser for the Trump campaign. He has reportedly emerged as the front-runner, alongside chair and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald Howard Lutnick, to lead the Treasury Department. 

Graham said that both he and his Palmetto State Senate counterpart, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), have a “good opinion” of Bessent.

Throughout Trump’s 2024 campaign, Bessent has supported the president-elect’s plans for energy independence and deregulation while slamming the economic proposals of his rival, Vice President Harris. 

“His skills are the sort of skills you need for the moment. We are going to [be] engaging in some potentially significant changes to America’s trading and financial relationships,” a former Trump Treasury Department official told The Hill.

“It seems like a no-brainer. It just seems like his skill set is tailor-made for what we have in front of us today,” the official added. 

Trump is expected to interview Bessent on Friday, The Washington Post reported Friday morning, citing two sources familiar with the matter. 

Lutnick, who is serving as co-chair of the Trump transition, has expressed support for Trump’s tariff proposals and has been an ardent backer of cryptocurrencies. 

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who Trump announced Thursday will not be a part of his administration, has a positive view of Bessent, the Post reported, citing one source familiar with the matter. 

“President-Elect Trump is making decisions on who will serve in his second Administration. Those decisions will be announced when they are made." Karoline Leavitt, Trump-Vance Transition spokesperson, said in a statement to The Hill.

Updated at 11:13 a.m. EST