Donald Trump has turned his Twitter fire on US comedy show Saturday Night Live - and doubled down on Hamilton - in an attempt to distract attention from his fake university, conflict of interests and controversial appointments, many think.
The US President Elect followed his criticism of the cast of the hit Broadway musical by launching a Twitter tirade at a “totally one-sided, biased show” after Alec Baldwin portrayed him as being out of his depth in his new role.
It followed the Republican renewing his earlier condemnation of Hamilton - whose cast had delivered a statement to Vice-President Elect Mike Pence, who was in attendance and was also booed by the audience.
Actor Brandon Victor Dixon said:
“We, sir - we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us.
“We truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.
“This is one American story told by a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds, and orientations.”
This was Trump’s initial reaction:
And how he reacted in his second wave of invective:
Curiously, Pence didn’t quite see events in the same way:
Pence said on Sunday morning that he was not offended or bothered, adding he would “leave it to others” to decide whether the theatre was an appropriate place for a political message. He said:
“I really enjoyed watching Hamilton. It was a real joy to be there. I heard a few boos. I wasn’t offended by what was said.”
The hit show depicts the life of America’s first treasury secretary, Alexander Hamilton, through hip-hop and traditional Broadway numbers.
The attack on two entertainment shows came as ...
... Trump agreed to pay $25 million in fines and restitution to settle three fraud lawsuits on behalf of the former customers of Trump University, the businessman’s now-defunct real estate seminar program ...
... his chief-of-staff refused to rule out a ban on Muslims entering the US ...
... serious questions were being asked about unprecedented conflict of interests between his business interests and the Presidency ...
... The Washington Post reported foreign diplomats were booking rooms at Trump’s hotels, raising more questions.
This all came as Trump was holed up in his New Jersey golf resort continuing to select personnel for his Cabinet, having already chosen a chief strategist who is labelled a white nationalist and an Attorney General who who was once judged too racist to be a federal judge.