U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent delivered remarks at the University of South Carolina’s commencement ceremony on May 9, addressing graduates and university officials. In his speech, Bessent reflected on his own roots in South Carolina and shared thoughts on resilience and opportunity with the Class of 2026.
Bessent said he was honored to speak at the event, acknowledging both President Amiridis and Provost Fitzpatrick as well as members of the faculty, Board of Trustees, distinguished guests, and graduates. He emphasized his connection to South Carolina by recalling his upbringing in Conway and Little River, stating that it was “the honor of a lifetime to stand before you as the seventy-ninth Secretary of the Treasury—and the first from the Palmetto State.”
Addressing uncertainty faced by new graduates, Bessent recounted historical challenges such as the global financial crisis during their grade school years and the pandemic during high school. He highlighted resilience through personal stories about his ninety-nine-year-old mother-in-law: “Resilience, in her case, was both the capacity to absorb a set of circumstances and the insistence to see beyond them. To marry an American soldier. To begin life anew in a country that refuses to be bound by uncertainty.”
He encouraged graduates not only to recognize opportunity amid disruption but also to act with courage: “Opportunity is not scarce in times of disruption. What is scarce is the poise to recognize it before the path is fully visible.” Bessent concluded with words aimed directly at those graduating: “You are strong, you are powerful of spirit, and you are tested… You are ready for what comes next… Congratulations.”
The speech underscored themes relevant for many entering an uncertain world after graduation—resilience in adversity and openness to new possibilities.
