Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted President Trump’s economic approach, framing it as a break from modern precedent by focusing on building national assets instead of adding debt.

“President Trump is going to be the only president in modern times who creates assets for the American people rather than debt,” Bessent said.

He pointed to the example of Intel receiving federal grants, noting Trump’s insistence that taxpayers should share in the gains from such investments. “He saw that Intel had been given grants, and wanted to know why the American taxpayer wouldn’t participate in the upside,” Bessent explained.

The remarks reflect the administration’s push to reshape how government spending is structured — seeking returns on taxpayer-funded initiatives rather than treating them solely as expenditures. Supporters argue the approach could strengthen long-term U.S. wealth creation, while critics are likely to question its feasibility in practice.