The '30 Rock' alum asks if he should be worried about his and his family's safety after the president demands 'retribution' against NBC for parodying him.
- Feb 18, 2019
AceShowbiz - Alec Baldwin reprised his role as Donald Trump in the latest episode of "Saturday Night Live" and as predicted the president quickly reacted to his latest impersonation. In the cold open of the February 16 edition of the NBC variety series, the actor mocked Trump's speech at a Friday White House news conference where he declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Following the sketch airing, Trump tweeted, "Nothing funny about tired Saturday Night Live on Fake News NBC! Question is, how do the Networks get away with these total Republican hit jobs without retribution? Likewise for many other shows? Very unfair and should be looked into. This is the real Collusion!"
Nothing funny about tired Saturday Night Live on Fake News NBC! Question is, how do the Networks get away with these total Republican hit jobs without retribution? Likewise for many other shows? Very unfair and should be looked into. This is the real Collusion!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2019
Clearly feeling bitter about the parody, Trump added in all caps tweet minutes later, "THE RIGGED AND CORRUPT MEDIA IS THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!"
THE RIGGED AND CORRUPT MEDIA IS THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2019
As Trump once again declared his war against media which satirized him, Baldwin wondered if he should be worried about his and his family's safety. He posted on his own account, "I wonder if a sitting President exhorting his followers that my role in a TV comedy qualifies me as an enemy of the people constitutes a threat to my safety and that of my family?"
I wonder if a sitting President exhorting his followers that my role in a TV comedy qualifies me as an enemy of the people constitutes a threat to my safety and that of my family?
— HABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) February 18, 2019
Many also took issue with Trump's tweets, seeing them as an attack on the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif. commented, "One thing that makes America great is that the people can laugh at you without retribution."
Dear @realDonaldTrump: One thing that makes America great is that the people can laugh at you without retribution. The First Amendment allows Saturday Night Live to make fun of you again, and again, and again. @nbcsnl
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 17, 2019
You should read the Constitution, or get briefed on it. https://t.co/4QxoMrLcmI
New York Times White House correspondent Peter Baker pointed out, "It's become commonplace enough in the past two years that it no longer gets much notice. But it's worth remembering that no other president in decades publicly threatened 'retribution' against a television network because it satirized him."
It's become commonplace enough in the past two years that it no longer gets much notice. But it's worth remembering that no other president in decades publicly threatened "retribution" against a television network because it satirized him.
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) February 17, 2019
"Those who love our Constitution know that its first amendment protects the freedom of the press," Attorney General of North Carolina, Josh Stein added. "The media informs the people so we can hold our government accountable. To call them the enemy is to seek to subvert democracy itself."
Those who love our Constitution know that its first amendment protects the freedom of the press. The media informs the people so we can hold our government accountable. To call them the enemy is to seek to subvert democracy itself. https://t.co/FUApgVHg4s
— Josh Stein (@JoshStein_) February 17, 2019
Others pointed out at recent violence directed toward political journalists. "Your reminder that a Florida man who had pictures of the President plastered across his van currently awaits trial for mailing package bombs to several targets the President has verbally attacked as enemies," one wrote.
Your reminder that a Florida man who had pictures of the President plastered across his van currently awaits trial for mailing package bombs to several targets the President has verbally attacked as enemies. https://t.co/CFoAqZ35eE
— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) February 17, 2019
Another reminded Trump of the dangerous effect of his remarks, "One of Your Supporters went into the Press Pen and attacked a Cameraman right after your riled them up!"
One of Your Supporters went into the Press Pen and attacked a Cameraman right after your riled them up!pic.twitter.com/Pliyw5D35Y
— Ryan Hill (@RyanHillMI) February 17, 2019
Don Cheadle, who hosted the latest "SNL" episode, also spoke against Trump for his alleged connection to Russia through a message on his shirt. As the show closed, he donned a Russian hockey jersey which had Trump's name on the back.
Haha Legendary! @DonCheadle wore a Soviet Union CCCP hockey jersey at the end of the #SNL tonight with #Trump on the back of it with number 45 for his presidency! Well done Donny! #DonCheadle#agentorangepic.twitter.com/OVhkSQwdXY
— Alex Peers (@dj_themes) February 17, 2019
Also during the telecast, it was announced that former "SNL" writer John Mulaney would host the March 2 episode of the show, with Thomas Rhett as the musical guest. It will mark his second time hosting the show, following his first stint in April 2018.
