Days after President Donald Trump's chaotic press conference announcing a state of emergency at the southern border, Saturday Night Live aired its take on the freewheeling event.
With resident Trump impersonator Alec Baldwin returning, the sketch skewered many of the press conference's highlights: Trump's hatred of certain news networks, his questionable inflections, and the lack of any evidence that there is a crisis at the southern border, let alone one that rises to the level of a national emergency.
Watch below:
The audience was quick to laugh at the heightened display of the President's ineptitude, but at least one viewer was not laughing: the President.
So, bright and early Sunday morning Trump tweeted against SNL from his resort in Mar-a-Lago. Alluding to the investigation of his campaign's potential coordination with Russia, the President decried SNL's portrayal of him and its furthering of "Republican hit jobs without retribution" as the "real Collusion!"
Nothing funny about tired Saturday Night Live on Fake News NBC! Question is, how do the Networks get away with thes… https://t.co/xwSLxmNPpk— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1550407958.0
THE RIGGED AND CORRUPT MEDIA IS THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1550408169.0
Trump has often accused Hillary Clinton and the Democrats of being guilty of actual collusion, but this is the first time he's accused a comedy series, citing its portrayal of him despite a long-running history of satirizing both Republicans and Democrats.
Americans didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
@realDonaldTrump This is the President of the United States saying that comedy and satire criticizing him should be… https://t.co/mgQSFpoDmv— Ahmed Baba (@Ahmed Baba) 1550414898.0
@realDonaldTrump “Colluding with a hostile foreign power to subvert our democracy < SNL being mean to me!” The sno… https://t.co/Ae3gZ2OaUf— Counterchekist (@Counterchekist) 1550417941.0
@realDonaldTrump So the Sitting President of the United States just encouraged “retribution” on Saturday Night Li… https://t.co/AtEfGQZpth— Ryan Hill (@Ryan Hill) 1550424044.0
@realDonaldTrump You do know satire is protected as free speech under the 1st Amendment of the Constitution you have sworn to uphold, right?— Jana Lynne Sanchez (@Jana Lynne Sanchez) 1550414454.0
@realDonaldTrump It's called The First Amendment, dingus, and it's the reason you weren't arrested years ago.… https://t.co/ZVqsv7OTR6— Jacopo della Quercia (@Jacopo della Quercia) 1550420033.0
Others began calling attention to the reason for the press conference in the first place.
Aren't we in a state of emergency?
@realDonaldTrump Why are you wasting time watching Saturday Night Live when there is a national emergency going on?! https://t.co/EWEn5QPrsf— Izzy Black (@Izzy Black) 1550420795.0
@realDonaldTrump You're the President of the United States and you're angry-tweeting about Saturday Night Live. Wow… https://t.co/eBdfmypYwd— Dottsy Z (@Dottsy Z) 1550424766.0
@realDonaldTrump You should just feel lucky you were able the watch SNL, most of us don’t have great reception or a… https://t.co/06ZBVLpGtB— YS (@YS) 1550421866.0
Others contrasted Trump's reaction to the more levelheaded reactions of past presidents.
@realDonaldTrump @POTUS They've made fun of a lot of President's! Bush and Obama were good sports about it! That's… https://t.co/J70zB77KQT— Ryan Silva (@Ryan Silva) 1550429287.0
@realDonaldTrump Trump’s reaction to @nbcsnl seems like a good time to check out President George H.W. Bush’s react… https://t.co/NhmtSGS3CQ— David Jones (@David Jones) 1550427801.0
@realDonaldTrump I worked on #SaturdayNightLive for 8 seasons when there was an avalanche of jokes made against Bil… https://t.co/FXGWZe0kEh— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1550423118.0
Though the President may be seeking retribution, it's unlikely he'll get it. The show has been skewering political figures for 44 seasons now, and the President's commentary has only bolstered the ratings.