Veteran actor Peter Fonda has issued an apology to the Trump family for a tweet he sent earlier this week in which he suggesting Barron Trump, President Donald Trump's youngest son, should be ripped away from his mother and "put in a cage with pedophiles.
On Tuesday, Fonda targeted the youngest Trump in response to the president's "zero tolerance" policy, which rips migrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexican border.
APOLOGY TO THE FIRST FAMILY: #PeterFonda says he went 'way too far' with vulgar tweet about Barron Trump, says he w… https://t.co/06eb3jU2EQ— AP Entertainment (@AP Entertainment) 1529531187.0
Many of the children are being held in cages and experts have described the conditions under which the children are being held as child abuse.
"We should rip Barron Trump from his mother's arms and put him in a cage with pedophiles and see if mother will stand up against the massive giant asshole she is married to," Fonda wrote. The tweet was subsequently deleted, but not before being screengrabbed.
Screenshot of deleted tweet from @iamfonda/Twitter
On Wednesday, Fonda apologized for the tweet, which prompted First Lady Melania Trump to contact the Secret Service. A spokesperson for the First Lady described the tweet as "sick and irresponsible."
Peter Fonda issues apology for Barron Trump tweet: “I went too far.” https://t.co/KQd2a94txS https://t.co/87BUDKXUlj— Ryan Parker (@Ryan Parker) 1529527356.0
"I tweeted something highly inappropriate and vulgar about the president and his family in response to the devastating images I was seeing on television," Fonda said in a statement to USA Today. He added that the has been "distraught over the situation with children separated from their families."
"Like many Americans, I am very impassioned and distraught over the situation with children separated from their families at the border, but I went way too far. It was wrong and I should not have done it. I immediately regretted it and sincerely apologize to the family for what I said and any hurt my words have caused."
Fonda came under additional fire for another [deleted] tweet, also sent on Tuesday, in which he called Homeland Security Secretary Kirtsjen Nielson a "lying gash."
Reactions to Fonda's apology were mixed on social media.
Some people want an apology for the "vulgar actions" perpetrated by the White House, which includes ripping families apart as they attempt to enter the United States in search of a better life.
@APEntertainment @AP Still haven't heard any apologies from the troglodytes in the white house about their vulgar actions.— CKLLS (@CKLLS) 1529546048.0
@JohnnyFreedom99 @stan_helton @mattnolan888 @DonaldJTrumpJr @iamfonda @SonyPictures Trump will have to answer for a… https://t.co/uxoOnD1YXN— Rhonda Manning (@Rhonda Manning) 1529543534.0
@APEntertainment @AP When has any of the lying racist corrupt Trump clan ever apologized for anything?— EricTan (@EricTan) 1529561915.0
Some suggested that Fonda shouldn't apologize at all, because "they never do."
@APEntertainment @AP Don’t apologize. They never do. It’s time for the nice guys to beat them at their own game! #NotMyPresident— Michelle (@Michelle) 1529559569.0
@APEntertainment @iamfonda Don't apologize. You've done nothing wrong.— Patti Scozzafava (@Patti Scozzafava) 1529544469.0
@APEntertainment @yashar There is no need for an apology— Lynette Warrior Mom! (@Lynette Warrior Mom!) 1529544427.0
Others, however, condemned Fonda's remarks as abhorrent and unacceptable.
@APEntertainment @AP I am an ER nurse. I see distraught people everyday. The don’t say such awful things about inno… https://t.co/kS6yYrxFxZ— Lisa Abel Latam (@Lisa Abel Latam) 1529545602.0