Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday defended President Trump following controversy over Trump's social media post about former FBI Director Robert Mueller's death at age 81.

Bessent said people should show more empathy toward Trump, citing what he described as actions taken against the president and his family. "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 stated.

The comments came after Trump posted on social media that he was "glad" Mueller had died. The post generated criticism and prompted Bessent's public defense of the president's remarks.

Mueller, who served as FBI Director from 2001 to 2013, led the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential ties to the Trump campaign. The investigation concluded in 2019 and resulted in multiple indictments, though Trump was not charged with any crimes.

Separately, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow commented on Mueller's legacy, describing him as having been "wildly outmaneuvered" by former Attorney General Bill Barr during the special counsel investigation.