'Piers Morgan is engaged in a hostile attack against the U.S. Constitution,' the petition says. | REUTERS Anti-Piers petition tops 80K signers

CNN anchor Piers Morgan isn’t benefiting from much holiday spirit, at least according to one measure: The number of signers on a petition urging the White House to deport Morgan had skyrocketed to about 80,000 names by Thursday.

( Also on POLITICO: Piers Morgan calls gun advocate 'dangerous,' 'stupid,' 'idiot')


The petition, created last week, had 80,838 supporters and is posted on the White House’s official petition site. It slams Morgan for comments he has made regarding gun control in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School that killed 20 children and six adults.

“British Citizen and CNN television host Piers Morgan is engaged in a hostile attack against the U.S. Constitution by targeting the Second Amendment,” the petition to the Obama administration reads. “We demand that Mr. Morgan be deported immediately for his effort to undermine the Bill of Rights and for exploiting his position as a national network television host to stage attacks against the rights of American citizens.”

( PHOTOS: Pols speak out on gun control)

On Christmas, Morgan jabbed back at his critics.

“Merry Christmas! Even to those who want me deported,” he snarked on Twitter.

By Monday, the petition had passed at least 25,000 signatures — the number required to receive a White House response.