Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended President Donald Trump’s post celebrating Robert Mueller’s death, saying the president deserved “empathy” because he and his family had “been through” a lot after various investigations.
When asked whether the president’s Truth Social post saying “Good, I’m glad he’s dead” was appropriate, Bessent argued nobody could understand what Trump had been through.
“I think that given what has been done to President Trump and his family, it is impossible for either of us to understand what he has been through,” Bessent told Kristen Welker on Meet the Press Sunday.
“I think that we should have a little empathy for what has been done to him and his family,” Bessent added, referring to the 2022 raid on the Trumps’ residence at Mar-a-Lago, which Mueller was not part of.
Bessent refused to say whether the president of the United States should celebrate the death of any American.
Mueller, the former FBI director who was the special counsel who led the investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign ties to Russia, died Friday at 81 years old. When Mueller’s death was announced Saturday, Trump celebrated it, saying, “He can no longer hurt innocent people!”
Trump had held animosity toward Mueller for investigating allegations that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Mueller’s two-year-long probe ended with six indictments against former Trump officials and associates, as well as a lengthy report.
While Mueller’s final report did not accuse the president of a crime, it also did not completely exonerate him. Rather, it provided anecdotes of repeated obstructive-like behavior from Trump.
The Mueller investigation proceeded various other criminal and civil investigations against Trump after he left office, including the classified documents inquiry – which is what spurred the Mar-a-Lago raid. Ultimately, that case was dismissed by a federal judge.
Yet, Bessent appeared to be referring to the raid, which the president has denounced repeatedly.
“I was with the president in the green room at Davos, and there was a video playing of what may have been an illegal raid on his home at Mar-a-Lago,” he told Meet the Press. “They are going through his wife's wardrobe. And I watched the look in his eye, and I think that neither one of us can understand what has been done to the president and to his family.”
Welker pointed out to Bessent that Mueller did not order that raid.
But Bessent remained firm that the president’s decision to celebrate Mueller’s death is likely tied to his personal feelings toward the various investigations.
