President Donald Trump is playing off Tuesday morning's embarrassing moment — in which he was laughed at by the United Nations General Assembly — by saying he totally meant it as a joke.

On Tuesday afternoon, between events at the UN, Trump briefly chatted with reporters and he dropped this nugget, apparently confusing the concepts of "laughing at" and "laughing with."

Trump on laughter at UN during speech: “Oh it was great. Well that was meant to get some laughter, but it was great.” — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) September 25, 2018

Trump on how his UN speech went:



"I think really well, it’s gotten very good reviews certainly and I think it went very well."



He said the laugher was intentionally provoked:



"Oh it was great. Well that was meant to get some laughter, but it was great." — Brian Ries (@moneyries) September 25, 2018

On the one hand, that is a pretty even-keeled response from someone as tantrum-prone as Trump.

On the other, it's a lie. If you watch the speech, immediately following the line that got the laugh, Trump says, "Didn't expect that reaction, but that's okay." So clearly not what you'd say if you'd just told an intentional joke.

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As the laughter at Trump's expense — and the implications — made waves across the internet, people were quick to surface old tweets in which Trump bemoaned a president (Obama) who he considered a laughingstock.

We need a President who isn't a laughing stock to the entire World. We need a truly great leader, a genius at strategy and winning. Respect! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2014

Lets fight like hell and stop this great and disgusting injustice! The world is laughing at us. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012

Trump has been busy enough at the UN that he hasn't had time to tweet about the speech, but once he gets back in to the warmer comforts of his couch, he'll surely let rip with what will no doubt be a tirade for the ages.