(WND)—U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday part of the reason beef prices have been soaring in America is due to the invasion of illegal aliens during the Biden administration, claiming many migrants brought diseased cattle with them.
Appearing on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel, Bessent was reacting to a statement by Omaha Steaks CEO Nate Rempe, who predicted: “By third quarter of ’26, families are going to see $10-a-pound ground beef in the grocery store.”
Bessent said: “The beef market is a very specialized market. It goes in long cycles, and this is the perfect storm again, something we inherited.
“And there’s also, because of the mass immigration, a disease that we’d been rid of in North America, made its way up through South America as these migrants they had brought some of their cattle with them.”
“So part go the problem is we’ve had to shut the border to Mexican beef because of this disease called the screwworm. So we’re not gonna let that get into our supply chain.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “New World screwworm is a species of parasitic fly that can cause myiasis and feeds on live tissue. It primarily affects livestock, but it can also infest people.”
When asked how long before Americans would feel an impact of reining in the overall cost of living, Bessent replied: “I think we’re going to see a substantial acceleration in the economy in the first [and] second quarter [of 2026].”
BARTIROMO: When do you think the public is really gonna feel an impact from your moves to rein in the cost of living?
BESSENT: I think we’re gonna see a substantial acceleration in the economy in the first, second quarter pic.twitter.com/CL67gZmo4O
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 16, 2025
“I think Americans are gonna feel it in the first quarter, second quarter. I think 2026, thanks to President Trump’s signature plans, is gonna be a great year for working Americans, for the markets. I call it parallel prosperity. Main Street and Wall Street can both do great but I think Main Street’s gonna have a great year in 2026.”
Meanwhile, tariffs are being removed from several household items not generally produced in the United States, including coffee, cocoa and bananas, and Bessent said he expects prices on those items to drop.
“This is a complete trade policy,” he explained. “Now we are going to see it affect the prices.”
? JUST IN: Scott Bessent CONFIRMS the prices of groceries, coffee, cocoa and fruit will PLUMMET
“Not only will the tariffs come off coffee, cocoa, bananas – that’s a result of the trade deals going through. We will see this go down.” pic.twitter.com/aCVFYe6Po5
“This is a…
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 16, 2025
Bessent also made a bold prediction about the U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling about President Trump’s tariffs.
“This is one of President Trump’s signature policies, and traditionally the Supreme Court does not interfere with a president’s signature policy,” he explained.
Bessent on tariffs: “This is one of President Trump’s signature policies, and traditionally the Supreme Court does not interfere with a president’s signature policy.” pic.twitter.com/razEkvR4DK
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 16, 2025
“I would push this back on the Supreme Court. I don’t think this ruling is gonna go against us, but if it does, what’s their plan for refunds?” Bessent added.
“I don’t think the Supreme Court wants to wade into a mess like that.”
The Treasury secretary was also asked about a Wall Street Journal report suggesting China was already reneging on its agreement to provide the U.S. military with rare-earth magnets.
“We haven’t even finished the agreement,” Bessent said.
“I am confident they will honor their agreement, and if they don’t we have lots of levers.”
Fox News host GRILLS Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Trump’s failed trade war with China screwing over American companies, American farmers, and American consumers: pic.twitter.com/WRY2fSRgwN
— Home of the Brave (@OfTheBraveUSA) November 16, 2025
Asked if one of those levers were to remove China from U.S. financial markets, Bessent responded: “All options are on the table but I believe we will have to go into this believing [Chinese] President Xi will keep his agreements.”
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.
