The evidence strongly supports the truthfulness of the statement. First, the official U.S. Department of the Treasury biography confirms that Scott Bessent is indeed the U.S. Treasury Secretary, verifying the identity portion of the statement. Second, multiple high-authority sources corroborate the core claim about his statements regarding a trade deal with China. A news report from NBC News is particularly compelling, as it reports on a formal announcement of a U.S.-China trade deal and directly attributes remarks on the topic to Secretary Bessent. An announced deal logically requires both parties, including China, to be ready. This is further supported by other reports, such as a BBC article stating that Bessent sees an opportunity for a "big deal," and a CNBC report indicating he believes the "stage is being set for a trade deal." Other sources from AP and PBS, while not as direct, report on Bessent's desire to "make a trade deal happen" and his view that the ongoing trade war is "not sustainable," which aligns with the context of moving towards a deal. The official transcripts from the Treasury website confirm he has spoken on relevant topics, lending credibility to the news reports of his statements. There are no contradictions in the provided sources; they consistently paint a picture of Secretary Bessent communicating that a trade deal with China is actively being pursued and is achievable, which implies China's readiness.