Donald Trump comments on Emmys ratings: 'I was saddened to see how bad they were'

AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump has given his verdict on this year's Emmy Awards following a ceremony that didn't hold back on criticising his presidency.

The President jumped on the news that the televised event suffered low ratings, tweeting on Tuesday night (19 September): “I was saddened to see how bad the ratings were on the Emmys last night – the worst ever. Smartest people of them all are the ‘DEPLORABLES.'“

Trump's statement that the 2017 Emmys had been “the worst year” is incorrect - reports have since confirmed that this year's ceremony was watched by 11.4 million viewers compared with 11.3 million in 2016.


The President had earlier delivered a speech at the UN in New York in which he stated that the US would “totally destroy” North Korea if “forced to defend itself or its allies.”

Many were surprised it had taken Trump to take this long to comment on the Emmys considering late night host Stephen Colbert used his opening monologue to make swipes at his expense going so far as to bring former White House press secretary Sean Spicer on stage in a heavily-criticised cameo.

Colbert poked fun at Trump's past tweets in which he criticised the Television Academy after failing to win any awards for The Apprentice USA - something Alec Baldwin later referenced in his acceptance speech after winning for his parody appearance as Trump on Saturday Night Live.

Kellyanne Conway has also weighed in on the ceremony suggesting that political bias is not welcome at ceremonies such as the Emmys despite the counsellor to the President going on to praise Spicer's appearance.

“This is something that folks in Hollywood often lack - which is introspection and good humour,” Conway told Fox and Friends.

The 2017 Emmys has been praised for a ceremony which celebrated diversity with a series of historic wins.