The White House ridiculed former special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's testimony Wednesday morning as "an epic embarrassment" for House Democrats.

"Expect more of the same in the second half," press secretary Stephanie Grisham wrote in a statement.

The last three hours have been an epic embarrassment for the Democrats. Expect more of the same in the second half. — Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) July 24, 2019

Minutes later, President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE tweeted a similar message and derided House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffSchiff claims DHS is blocking whistleblower's access to records before testimony GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power Rubio on peaceful transfer of power: 'We will have a legitimate & fair election' MORE (D-Calif.), who will oversee the second hearing of the day.

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"I would like to thank the Democrats for holding this morning’s hearing," Trump tweeted. "Now, after 3 hours, Robert Mueller has to subject himself to #ShiftySchiff - an Embarrassment to our Country!"

The statements came after Mueller completed roughly three hours of testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. Mueller is set to testify before the Intelligence panel for another three hours in the afternoon.

Trump and his allies generally embraced Mueller's performance during the first half of the day, arguing that Democrats largely failed to advance the case for impeachment and noting that Mueller's testimony was mostly reserved and at times uneven.

Trump earlier in the day tweeted six times about the hearings before they began. He has since tweeted a pair of quotes from Fox News personalities who criticized Democrats and Mueller over their performances.

"This has been a disaster for the Democrats and a disaster for the reputation of Robert Mueller," Trump tweeted, quoting Fox News anchor Chris Wallace Christopher (Chris) WallaceGOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power Trump mocks Biden for calling 'a lid' before 9 a.m. Trump claims Fox anchor Chris Wallace won't ask Biden 'tough questions' at debate MORE.

The president said before the hearing that he "might" watch some of it. His public schedule was open during the day Wednesday, with a fundraiser in West Virginia planned for the evening.

Originally, Trump had said, "No, I won’t be watching Mueller,” but changed his tune early this week.

Mueller said ahead of the Judiciary hearing that he would not stray in his testimony from his team's 448-page report on the Russia investigation. He stuck to his promise, declining to answer a number of questions and referencing the report in response to numerous questions.

At the outset, however, he responded to questions from Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerDemocrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Schumer: 'Nothing is off the table' if GOP moves forward with Ginsburg replacement Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-N.Y.) that his report did not exonerate the president as Trump has repeatedly claimed, and that the report did not state there was "no obstruction."

--Updated at 1:15 p.m.