The billboard in the center of Union Township is emblazoned with President Trump's picture next to the words in bold letters: "Our Leader, The Idiot."

The sign, which is posted on Morris Avenue, went up one day after Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to fraud and campaign violations and implicated the president in a felony.

The sign is meant to promote an anti-Trump documentary.

Union Township officials want residents to know they had nothing to do with it.

"Residents, it's come to our attention that a potentially offensive billboard has gone up on Morris Ave promoting a documentary about the president," the township stated on Facebook.

"While we take these matters very seriously, billboards are privately owned and as such the Township of Union has no authority or role in approving what goes up on each of them," the town said.

Neil Harrison, a political activist from New York, told News12 he paid nearly $1,000 to protest the president and publicize a film he is producing.

Harrison, who could not be reached for comment Friday, told the news station he chose New Jersey because New York City does not allow political messages on billboards.

Natalie Pineiro, spokeswoman for Union Township, said the municipality has no policy against political messages on billboards.

"However, it needs to be understood that while the billboard features a politician, the president, it's ultimately a billboard promoting a documentary," Pineiro said.

A spokeswoman for OutFront Media, which owns the billboard, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Elsewhere in the nation, some anti-Trump signs have quickly been taken down.

In Georgia, a billboard calling for Trump's impeachment was taken down Tuesday after being up for just a day. The man who paid to have it erected is now complaining his right to freedom of speech had been violated.

Residents, it’s come to our attention that a potentially offensive billboard has gone up on Morris Ave promoting a... Posted by Township of Union, New Jersey - Government on Thursday, August 23, 2018

Right after the Union Township sign went up, it drew emotional responses from all corners.

Some wanted Harrison's address and phone number to be made public while others said taking the sign down would be censorship.

Others blamed Trump for creating a climate that encouraged such a sign in the first place.

"There is no decency anymore and the hatred gets worse and worse, and the names that people are called because they voted for our president are just pure venomous," wrote Robin Wehrle Zukowski, a longtime Union resident.

"Why didn't this clown put it up in NY where he lives?" she asked.

Deni Jerome of Clark wrote that a United States president should never be disrespected.

"I don't care if Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny was president of the United States, this is such disrespect," Jerome wrote.

Elizabeth Zembilis posted a screenshot of a Trump tweet from Aug. 18 that stated in part: "Censorship is a very dangerous thing & absolutely impossible to police."

"Interesting, out of his own mouth," Zembilis wrote. "But I guess it's only OK for him to say whatever he wants, right?"

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.