Hardly had Edward Snowden joined Twitter, he got his first troll - ex New York Governor George Pataki who called ex-NSA contractor “a traitor”. But Pataki didn’t know there is troll for every troll on social media – and in no time his tweets backfired.

READ MORE: 'Can you hear me now?' Edward Snowden joins Twitter, follows only NSA

Edward Snowden joins Twitter #Snowden: 'Can you hear me now? Posted by RT Play on Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Pataki, also a republican presidential hopeful with one of the lowest rating, didn’t mince words, calling Snowden “a traitor” and “a terrorist.” He even hasn’t forgotten where “the traitor” is currently holed up –Russia.

Some say you have courage, I saw real courage on #Sept11 You are just a traitor who put American lives at risk. https://t.co/RRWtmMzyxE — George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) September 29, 2015

Not a traitor who put Americans at risk, hides in Russia and belongs behind bars. https://t.co/LMXVLjta1B — George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) September 29, 2015

However, Pataki was roundly trolled in return, with biting and deeply sarcastic remarks.

@GovernorPataki@Snowden Edward Snowden has done more in service of his country and countrymen than you ever will. — Goodjobguru (@GoodJobGuru) September 29, 2015

@AndrewMitrovica@Snowden@GovernorPataki Hey Governor, do you know that NSA is bugging you? Cause they are. — William Owen (@Bill_Owen) September 29, 2015

Others were not so polite – they called the ex-New York governor “stupid” and “a parasite” who will never become US president.

Pataki went further – he called on Twitter to ban Snowden! And apparently it was his biggest mistake of the day. The users lashed out at him, saying he wants to ban freedom of speech and expression in violation of the US Constitution.

.@Twitter is a great American company that should not give a platform to terrorists or traitors - @Jack shutdown @Snowden today. — George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) September 29, 2015

.@GovernorPataki get a grip. Twitter is empowering you to have a voice and Snowden too. You are out of touch with modern media. — Ryan Williams (@ryanjwill) September 30, 2015

Twitter users wondered who was actually a “traitor”: Snowden or Pataki himself. The majority ‘voted’ for the latter.

@GovernorPataki@Snowden and I say Governor you are a traitor for just saying that. Thanks Ed for your service. — BЯY丹れ (@ItsBryanTho) September 29, 2015

Trolls aside, let’s compare the number of followers Snowden and Pataki have. The NSA leaker is a newcomer to Twitter and already has over 963,000 followers, while the American politician has a paltry 53,000.