Jim Gaffigan Sort Of Regrets Wild Anti-Trump Posts, But Not Really

Comedian Jim Gaffigan said this week that he regrets that supporters of President-elect Donald Trump took his anti-Trump rants too “personally,” but doesn’t regret publishing the posts.

Gaffigan, who is Catholic, cultivated a large, diverse fanbase with his wholesome, curse-free, non-political comedy. In 2020, though, his image changed when he repeatedly targeted President Trump and his supporters in sometimes unhinged social media posts.

“I regret that people think that I was criticizing people that support Trump,” Gaffigan told The Daily Beast. “And that was never the intention. I regret—someone said like, now I can’t follow you anymore and I kind of said ‘F you’ to them.”

“But it’s weird because I think authenticity is really an important thing, not only as a comedian, but also with your children,” Gaffigan continued. “For me, I don’t regret it, but I also do acknowledge that there are true die-hard Trump fans who probably enjoyed my comedy, but because they feel so passionately will never forgive me.”

Despite Gaffigan’s comments, the comedian routinely suggested that Trump supporters were stupid for backing the president, in addition to calling Trump a “con man,” “thief,” “criminal,” and a “liar,” among other attacks.

“I don’t give a f*** if anyone thinks this is virtue signaling or whatever. We need to wake up. We need to call Trump the con man and thief that he is,” Gaffigan posted in 2020.

I dont give a fuck if anyone thinks this is virtue signaling or whatever. We need to wake up. We need to call trump the con man and thief that he is.

— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 28, 2020

“Look Trumpers I get it. As a kid I was a cubs fan and I know you stick by your team no matter what but he’s a traitor and a con man who doesn’t care about you. Deep down you know it. I’m sure you enjoy pissing people off but you know Trump is a liar and a criminal,” the comedian wrote in another post.

Look Trumpers I get it. As a kid I was a cubs fan and I know you stick by your team no matter what but he’s a traitor and a con man who doesn’t care about you. Deep down you know it. I’m sure you enjoy pissing people off but you know Trump is a liar and a criminal.

— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 28, 2020

In another post targeting Trump supporters, Gaffigan wrote, “You know he lies. Constantly. Yet you don’t care? What because he insults people that make you and me feel dumb?”

You know he lies. Constantly. Yet you dont care? What because he insults people that make you and me feel dumb?

— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 28, 2020

After legendary football coach Lou Holtz spoke at the RNC, Gaffigan attacked him, and Trump.

“F*** Lou Holtz,” he wrote. “Biden is Catholic in name only? Compared to who? How many abortions did Trump pay for? How many women has he raped? How many times did pull the s*** he did in Ukraine. Wake up. He’s a crook and a con man.”

Fuck Lou Holtz. Biden is Catholic in name only? Compared to who? How many abortions did trump pay for? How many women has he raped? How many times did pull the shit he did in Ukraine. Wake up. He’s a crook and a con man.

— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 28, 2020

Another post suggested any talk of the “deep state” taking on Trump was a conspiracy theory, though Trump’s campaign, for example, was indeed spied on.

“Heading to bed but remember – If you want to sound crazy please tell me about THE DEEP STATE,” Gaffigan posted. “To sound stupid please be against CANCEL CULTURE but then accuse anyone with an opinion of Virtue signaling. Trump Derangement Syndrome is meant to distract from the con of Don.”

Heading to bed but remember
– If you want to sound crazy please tell me about THE DEEP STATE.
– To sound stupid please be against CANCEL CULTURE but then accuse anyone with an opinion of Virtue signaling.
– Trump Derangement Syndrome is meant to distract from the con of Don

— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) August 28, 2020

In October, Gaffigan hosted the annual Catholic Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner in New York City and was well received for his fun jokes targeting both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I was ‘normalizing a fascist,’ right? I knew going into it that I was going to get criticism from both sides. I’m not a roast comedian. I mean, I love politics, but I just don’t talk about it,” Gaffigan said of the hosting gig. “So I knew that if I did jokes about either side that there was going to be some blowback. But I also thought it was worth it.”

Related: Jim Gaffigan Roasts Kamala For Skipping Al Smith Dinner