Why a near-fistfight at a MAGA nightspot spells danger for the global economy

It gives new meaning to the term economic meltdown.

Reports that fists almost flew between two members of President Donald Trump’s crack finance team are hardly reassuring with the economy perched on the precipice of a jobs slump and a possible deeper slowdown .

But the story that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to punch Federal Housing Finance Agency chief Bill Pulte in the face at an exclusive MAGA club last week is a sensational morsel of Beltway gossip.

The spur for the near-fisticuffs was Bessent’s belief that Pulte had bad-mouthed him to the big boss, two sources familiar with the evening told CNN. The White House declined to comment. CNN has reached out to the offices of the alleged potential pugilists.

Bessent’s combativeness — he allegedly told Pulte he w