Jimmy Fallon under fire for 'humanizing' Donald Trump

"Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon tussles Donald Trump's highly controversial hair on Sept. 15, 2016. "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon tussles Donald Trump's highly controversial hair on Sept. 15, 2016. Photo: YouTube/Tonight Show Photo: YouTube/Tonight Show Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Jimmy Fallon under fire for 'humanizing' Donald Trump 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Story updated on Sept. 16 at 11:45 a.m.

The affable Jimmy Fallon has come under fire for "humanizing" Donald Trump.

The "Tonight Show" host created a light-hearted moment with the GOP presidential candidate as he messed up his infamous hair on Thursday night. The two men traded laughs as Trump's Cheetos-colored mane flew around wildly, and in general the entire interview was friendly and full of chuckles.

Trump opponents are saying Fallon created a promotional puff piece for Trump, and instead should have used the opportunity to ask hard-nosed questions.

Video: Jimmy Fallon Faces Social Media Uproad for Trump Interview

"Throughout the interview, Fallon was predictably non-confrontational and willing to work with whatever Trump gave him," writes Maxwell Strachan in a story for the Huffington Post. "When Trump made a joke about fearing what people might do to his hamburgers if they know it's him before he orders, Fallon leaned back in his chair and let out a disproportionately large laugh relative to the funniness of the joke. Was it really that funny? No, it was not."

Original story

Jimmy Fallon did the unthinkable on Thursday night's "Tonight Show" and messed up Donald Trump's infamous hair.

The show's host first asked the GOP presidential candidate for permission, and Trump sheepishly responded yes and added, "The people in New Hampshire where I'm going to be in about an hour, I hope they understand."

And then Fallon clamped his hand down onto Trump's cotton candy–like mane and moved his hand back and forth rapidly.

Trump's gossamer hair flew wildly, revealing that some sections are especially long and swirled around his head to create a fuller-looking pile of hay.