'I bet you'd be on my side if I had killed a journalist': Michelle Wolf claps back at Trump

William Cummings | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: Saudi Arabia decision about 'America First' President Donald Trump defended his decision not to punish Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman or cut arms sales to Saudi Arabia for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. insisting it would be "foolish" to cut ties. (Nov. 20)

Comedian Michelle Wolf delivered a mic-dropping response Wednesday to a tweet from President Donald Trump slamming her performance at last year's White House Correspondents Dinner.

Trump sent a tweet late Tuesday celebrating the White House Correspondents' Association's decision to have biographer Ron Chernow headline this year's dinner after "so-called comedian Michelle Wolf bombed so badly last year."

"I bet you'd be on my side if I had killed a journalist. #BeBest," Wolf tweeted in reply, simultaneously mocking the president's response to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's alleged role in Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi's murder and the slogan for first lady Melania Trump's initiative.

I bet you'd be on my side if I had killed a journalist. #BeBest https://t.co/bZ91Cg0QCr — Michelle Wolf (@michelleisawolf) November 21, 2018

More: Post-Michelle Wolf, biographer Chernow to headline White House Correspondents Dinner

Wolf was far from the only person on Twitter deriding Trump for his response to Khashoggi's murder. Many politicians, including several Republican senators, pushed back at Trump after the White House issued a statement on Tuesday declaring that "it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!"

‘Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!’: Trump says US will stand by Saudis despite Khashoggi murder

More: President Donald Trump has many ways to penalize Saudi Arabia for Jamal Khashoggi murder

The statement explained that "Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producing nation in the world" and has helped keep oil prices down, so no further action is planned against the Arab nation's ruling family.

"America First!" it concluded.

"Let’s put America first, not Saudi Arabia," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. tweeted in response.

Let’s put America first, not Saudi Arabia. https://t.co/Kgl5wo67OC — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) November 20, 2018

"'Great allies' don’t plot the murder of journalists, Mr. President. 'Great allies' don’t lure their own citizens into a trap, then kill them," Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said.

“Great allies” don’t plot the murder of journalists, Mr. President. “Great allies” don’t lure their own citizens into a trap, then kill them. https://t.co/PY6qOOIOI6 — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 20, 2018

"One thing I learned during the Obama years is that when you look the other way regarding problems in the Middle East, it seldom works out," warned Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

One thing I learned during the Obama years is that when you look the other way regarding problems in the Middle East, it seldom works out. — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) November 20, 2018

"I never thought I’d see the day a White House would moonlight as a public relations firm for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia," said Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.

I never thought I’d see the day a White House would moonlight as a public relations firm for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. https://t.co/MQ4JsoQtqk — Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) November 20, 2018

"Nothing says 'America First!' like believing the Saudis over U.S. intel," tweeted Republican pollster Frank Luntz.

Nothing says “America First!” like believing the Saudis over U.S. intel. https://t.co/QKPPmoxY5S — Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) November 20, 2018

Here are some other reactions:

My thoughts on the President’s and Secretary of State’s statements on Khashoggi. https://t.co/nzqqelUnbZ pic.twitter.com/I6PTdAPCbJ — Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) November 20, 2018

Oh my god. Catastrophic. This is written by the Saudis - word for word.



It’s now 100% clear the Saudis own our President - and the new House Dem majority needs to get to the bottom of this ASAP. https://t.co/fc32FAumqD — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) November 20, 2018

Once again, our President proves that you can’t buy a moral compass.



And Saudi Arabia proves that you can, on the other hand, buy a President. https://t.co/NC3X7umsGG — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 20, 2018

Dear @realDonaldTrump: You are the President of the United States of America. You should not grovel to Saudi Arabia.



Your statement is weak despite the random exclamation points. A strong @POTUS would not excuse the Saudis for murdering a journalist & cutting him up into pieces https://t.co/MDbRFtmXRO — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) November 21, 2018

CIA: Russia interfered and MBS ordered Khashoggi’s death.

Trump: what is “truth” reallyhttps://t.co/naxO3xy7He — Philip Bump (@pbump) November 21, 2018

All you need to know about @realDonaldTrump is that he's tougher on Adm. Bill McRaven than he is on Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Or Vladimir Putin. Or Kim Jong-un. — Max Boot (@MaxBoot) November 20, 2018

More: 'Traitor, you will be brought to account!': Parts of Khashoggi tape revealed

Our view: Don't let Saudi Arabia get away with murder