CNN political analyst Joe Lockhart experienced backlash Wednesday after he posted a “convo between two Republican Senators” on Twitter that he later claimed was “satire.”

“Overheard convo between two Republican Senators who only watch Fox News,” Lockhart, a former White House press secretary under former President Bill Clinton, wrote during Wednesday’s impeachment hearings. “‘[I]s this stuff real? I haven’t heard any of this before. I thought it was all about a server. If half the stuff Schiff is saying is true, we’re up shit’s creek. Hope the White House has exculpatory evidence.'”

Overheard convo between two Republican Senators who only watch Fox News. “is this stuff real? I haven’t heard any of this before. I thought it was all about a server. If half the stuff Schiff is saying is true, we’re up shit’s creek. Hope the White House has exculpatory evidence — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020

Minutes later, Lockhart tweeted that he had “made up” the conversation, but insisted everyone knows “that’s exactly what they’re thinking.”

Ok maybe I made up the convo, but you know that’s exactly what they’re thinking. — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020

“You can’t make this stuff up. Actually they can and continue to make up stuff every day,” Lockhart tweeted after his “made up” conversation, referring to a different tweet about the president being out of the country.

You can’t make this stuff up. Actually they can and continue to make up stuff every day. https://t.co/61iroryXas — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020

The former White House press secretary’s tweet went viral for all the wrong reasons, with thousands of responses, most of which were highly critical of the CNN analyst:

Yeah, this happened. Don’t take up screenwriting, Joe. You suck at dialogue. https://t.co/YhEO6NLToO — GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) January 22, 2020

You would think someone who’s attempting to cover Trump’s impeachment trial seriously wouldn’t willingly mislead his audience and spread disinformation in a sad attempt at satire. https://t.co/B7L8E5HaiH — Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) January 22, 2020

Hey, @CNN—will there be any consequences for your Political Analyst sharing fake news on Twitter? Or will he continue to be allowed on air just like the rest of the Never-Trump liars you give a platform to? ???? https://t.co/VOgfbeinKm — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 22, 2020

Did I tell you the one about the CNN analyst who spread a false narrative, watched it go viral, then waited 10 minutes to admit he made it all up? This is the bullshit that discredits news organizations. — Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) January 22, 2020

If you gave a crap that people took it seriously and had an ounce of integrity you’d delete it — Sara Gonzales (@SaraGonzalesTX) January 22, 2020

What was the point of this exactly? — Debra Heine (@NiceDeb) January 22, 2020

Joe, with all due respect, stop. We have enough fabricating from the other side. — Jeff Stein (@SpyTalker) January 22, 2020

The reaction was strong enough for another tweet telling everyone to “relax” because his tweet was “satire.”

Everyone relax. This is satire. Satire to make the point that Senators that are deciding the President’s fate who only watch Fox News have never heard this stuff before. Because Fox is part of the coverup. https://t.co/ktCxCg1Irt — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020

Lockhart sent out another tweet several hours later lamenting that he’d “poked the bear” and now the “purveyors of Pizzagate and the Seth Rich conspiracy are lecturing me on honesty.”

Seems like I poked the bear today. The purveyors of Pizzagate and the Seth Rich conspiracy are lecturing me on honesty. I told a joke, you guys are a destructive joke that is killing our democracy. Other than that, hope you’re enjoying the trial and have a nice evening — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020

Not an hour after his original tweets, the CNN analyst posted a somber message for “all those who are complaining” about the impeachment hearing being “dry and not entertaining.” (RELATED: Elderly Trump Supporter Woman Exposed To Vicious Harassment Following CNN Report)

For all those who are complaining that this is dry and not entertaining. It’s not supposed to be entertaining. This is serious. And to the Trump aides saying they are bored, we know you mean scared and disappointed with your boss — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020

“This is serious,” he insisted.