A left-wing author reportedly known for her “sardonic social commentary” said Friday that President Donald Trump “deserves” to be turned over to the Saudis to be executed like Jamal Khashoggi.

“Certainly, he deserves to be impeached,” author Fran Lebowitz said during a discussion on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” about the president’s alleged crimes. “I mean, impeachment is just the beginning of what he deserves. Not even scratching the surface of what he deserves.”

“Whenever I think about this and what he really deserves, I think, ‘We should turn him over to the Saudis, you know, his buddies. The same Saudis who got rid of that reporter, you know. Maybe they can do the same for him.'”

She reportedly said this after Maher specifically asked her whether the president, who as a reminder has been exonerated of both alleged Russian collusion and alleged obstruction of justice, should be impeached by congressional Democrats.

Listen:

On HBO’s @RealTimers on Friday night, guest #FranLebowitz suggested murdering @realDonaldTrump: “We should turn him over to the Saudis, his buddies. The same Saudis who got rid of that reporter. Maybe they could do the same for him.” #RealTime pic.twitter.com/X5IDzZGxM8 — Brent Baker (@BrentHBaker) May 18, 2019

Note how the audience responded with raucous applause and approval.

Khashoggi, a former so-called “journalist” for The Washington Post, was brutally murdered late last year, allegedly on orders from Saudi Arabia’s royal family.

Lebowitz later tried to backtrack on her remarks during the live broadcast of “Real Time” after backlash reportedly began brewing on social media.

Some of that backlash may be seen below:

#FranLebowitz says President @realDonaldTrump should be turned over to the Saudis for them to murder him like they did to reporter #KamalKhashhoggi. What kind of person says this? Plus she said it on NATIONAL TV?@SecretService — Anthony Jackson Michael (@Anthony04623623) May 18, 2019

Truly disgusting she would say this, disgusting that Bill Maher kept engaging & also disgusting on all the people that clapped and cheered. Wow! — Kristy Swanson (@KristySwansonXO) May 18, 2019

This is a absolutely sickening and this is the reason I’m changing over to the Republican Party. Democraps promote violence and hatred. Sick sick sick!! — Vinnie Mack (@LVREALTOR111) May 18, 2019

At what point does @FBI &or @DHSgov start charging these people!There should be some fear of threatening the President of the United States of America!!Praying always for @POTUS protection! Disagree, freedom of speech yes. Promises or suggestion of assignation should be criminal — Tammy Stephens (@sisterbusinessT) May 18, 2019

“I saw your face when I said it,” she said to Maher during the show’s “Overtime” segment. “I didn’t realize that I had said it. I had 12 cups of coffee. I regret saying it.”

“It’s a live show,” Maher replied. “You don’t really want to see the president dismembered by the Saudis. I don’t like Donald Trump either. … NO matter who the president is we do not want physical harm.”

“I did not mean that and I regret saying it,” she responded. “I regret that everyone misinterpreted it. They misinterpret everything.”

Listen:

Too little, too late? Some would argue yes, especially given that the mainstream media would have no doubt pounced faster than the speed of light had a conservative commentator said anything so repugnant about then-President Barack Hussein Obama during his presidency.

“Meh, harmless rhetoric, but let’s be honest, if this was said about President Obama, it would be condemned immediately and be covered by all media outlets,” one Twitter user noted.

“If the conservatives would have said 1/100th of the things about Obama that the liberals have said about President Trump, there would have been rioting in the streets,” another added.

Look:

Meh, harmless rhetoric, but let’s be honest, if this was said about President Obama, it would be condemned immediately and be covered by all media outlets. It was a stupid thing to say nonetheless. People need to be more careful with their words.https://t.co/GPohsrAG47 — They call me K (@MrKHafid1) May 18, 2019

I agree. If the conservatives would have said 1/100th of the things about obama that the liberals have said about President Trump, there would have been rioting in the streets. — William Kriel (@wkriel_author) May 18, 2019

What a bunch of hypocrites. Presidential assassination fantasies were all the rage when George W. Bush was President. I think a “documentary” spoofing a Bush assassination even won a film festival award. That all immediately stopped under Obama. And now it’s ‘cool’ again. — Brian Cates (@drawandstrike) May 18, 2019

HERE’S WHAT YOU’RE MISSING …

As of Saturday morning, not a single mainstream media outlet — aside for Fox News — had reported on Lebowitz’s comments. If and when the media eventually decide to report the comments to their audience, they’ll likely do so with a “Republicans pounced” narrative.

While some on the left may attempt to cite the First Amendment in defense of Lebowitz, it should be noted that this argument seems to never run both ways.

Whenever conservatives are punished/censored for spouting unpopular, allegedly controversial opinions about illegal immigration, transgender pseudoscience, etc., the left (including the media) seem to cheer on the grounds that “hate speech” should not be tolerated.

But when it comes to the genuinely hateful rhetoric of those like Lebowitz and comedian Kathy Griffin, who in 2017 posed with a replica of the president’s severed head, this standard never seems to apply:

Exactly! Bill’s always talking about not apologizing for 1st amendment rights! C’mon! It was a joke and it wasn’t even that bad. — GeisseLópez♡ (@zhalOqqiz) May 18, 2019

HERE’S WHAT YOU’RE MISSING …