Paul Ryan tried to roast Donald Trump, and Twitter wasn't having it

The jokes hit too close to home.
 By 
Nicole Gallucci
 on 
Paul Ryan tried to roast Donald Trump, and Twitter wasn't having it
Paul Ryan realizing he might not be hilarious after all. Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

When people think "funny," I'm fairly confident Paul Ryan does not come to mind.

Still, the Speaker of the House decided he'd try to roast Donald Trump and crack some jokes about Twitter during his keynote speech at Thursday's Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner. It went as horribly as you'd expect.

Though the event is known for guest speakers breaking out "light humor and political savvy," some people were outraged by just how close to home Ryan's jokes hit.

"Every morning, I wake up in my office and scroll Twitter to see which tweets I will have to pretend that I didn't see later," Ryan quipped to the audience, per The Associated Press.

Ryan's joke was a clear nod at Donald Trump's frequent, unhinged early morning Twitter rants, which are occasionally seen by users as a violation of Twitter's rules. Surprise, surprise: It didn't go over too well.

Some felt the Speaker of the House's joke was in poor taste, reminding him that Trump's words carry extreme weight in this country. Others felt that rather than joking about the issue, Ryan should use his voice to take a stand against Trump's concerning behavior.

Ryan also cracked jokes about everything from the White House and inauguration crowds to Rex Tillerson and Hillary Clinton.

"The truth is, the press absolutely misunderstands and never records the big accomplishments of the White House," the House Speaker said. "Look at all the new jobs the president has created — just among the White House staff."

“Some said it was unbecoming of a public figure and they said that his comments were offensive," Ryan said in reference to Trump's 2016 Al Smith Dinner speech. "Well, thank God he’s learned his lesson."

*sighhhhhhhh*

Mashable Image
Nicole Gallucci

Nicole is a Senior Editor at Mashable. She primarily covers entertainment and digital culture trends, and in her free time she can be found watching TV, sending voice notes, or going viral on Twitter for admiring knitwear. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolemichele5.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Jimmy Kimmel uses a 10-year-old tweet to roast Trump
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage. An old tweet from Donald Trump is visible at the bottom of the screen.

Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney has the internet in a chokehold
Paul McCartney on September 9, 1963

Jimmy Kimmel reacts to Jake Paul speaking at a Trump rally
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage looking unimpressed. The caption at the bottom reads, "Trump got a visit from a celebrity..."


I tried the Even Realities G2, the most subtle pair of smart glasses you can buy in 2026
portrait of even realities g2 smart classes held in hand at ces 2026

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 4, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 4, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!