People Want SNL Writer Katie Rich To Be Fired

Inauguration Day was a tough time for many people in America, especially vulnerable groups like immigrants and women. Based on the promises Donald Trump made on the campaign trail, they fear that he will implement policies that could hurt them. Unfortunately some of the reactions to the inauguration went too far. Saturday Night Live writer Katie Rich posted an offensive tweet about Barron, Trump's 10-year-old son, that resulted in her being suspended indefinitely from the show, according to the New York Times. Now, the network is surely facing pressure from the public to fire Rich for her remarks.

Rich wrote on Twitter that Barron would be "the country's first homeschool shooter." Once the backlash started up, she deleted the tweet, as well as deactivated her Twitter account. Rich returned to Twitter on Monday to offer an apology, saying, "I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I'm so sorry."

Immediately after Rich's tweet began circulating, those offended by the tweet stated that the children of presidents are off-limits. As someone who knows what it's like to be the first daughter, facing scrutiny at a young age, Chelsea Clinton chimed in to defend the young Trump. "Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does — to be a kid. Standing up for every kid also means opposing POTUS policies that hurt kids," she wrote.

Along with the backlash of the offensive tweet, a petition was created calling for Rich to be fired from her job at SNL where she writes for the "Weekend Update" segments. The petition has nearly 100,000 signatures. The show has not commented on the petition. And many Twitter users and public figures, such as CNN's Jake Tapper, have denounced the behavior.

Trump himself has an interesting history with SNL, which he hosted in 2015. But lately, he hasn't been as happy with the show that airs political satire and has often taken to Twitter to call it out for making fun of him. Whether it's about his cabinet appointments, alleged relationship with Russia, or his tweeting habits, there's usually some sort of ridicule in each episode.

Political satire is an important part of American culture, but it's important to remember where the focus of the satire should be. The president should be called out, but the young children of the family shouldn't have to endure such ridicule or negative comments.

Rich's mistake is a reminder that the presidential children are just that — children. They did not choose to have a national spotlight on them and their behavior should not be scrutinized like the president's is.