Comedian John Cleese mocks critics of his viral Hitler joke: 'Never tried to amuse the simple-minded'
Cleese gave two examples of Trump being superior to Hitler, including that he 'doesn't practice genocide' and 'has nicer hair'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Comedian and actor John Cleese fired back at critics online after he went viral for a joke post comparing former President Trump to Adolf Hitler.
Cleese shared a post on X Tuesday listing five ways that "Hitler was preferable to Trump," which included that Hitler "fought for his country," "never used a teleprompter," "wrote his own books" and "wasn't a big fat slob."
On Trump's end, Cleese gave just two examples of the former president being superior to Hitler, including that he "doesn't practice genocide" and "has nicer hair."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Comedian and actor John Cleese fired back at critics online after he went viral for a joke post comparing former President Donald Trump with Adolf Hitler. (Getty Images)
Cleese acknowledged the backlash to his post, which has received over 2.3 million views on X alone. "I would like to apologize for my last tweet," he wrote, adding that "[i]t was a very bad joke, especially on Boxing Day."
Boxing Day is a holiday traditionally celebrated the day after Christmas and originates in Britain.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}While some commentators wrote that they appreciated Cleese's joke, others argued with Cleese online.
"Never bend a knee to the woke mob," Free Cities Foundation administrative assistant Natalie Danelishen told Cleese.
Cleese highlighted several responses to his original post on his X account.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}On Trump's end, Cleese gave just two examples of the former president being superior to Hitler, including that he "doesn't practice genocide" and "has nicer hair." (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
"I love your comedy, but concerning political wisdom you are still at the level of using weight scales to determine if she is a witch," one user wrote.
Cleese directly responded to one post from Carl Benjamin, a popular YouTuber and political commentator who is also known as the online personality "Sargon of Akkad."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It seems like you're saying that you prefer Hitler to Trump, fyi," Benjamin told Cleese.
"The literal minded are always with us It's a shame, because they miss so much," the comedian wrote back.
Benjamin then warned Cleese that the people he should be most concerned about are the same people that he "pander[s] to with your joke at Trump's expense," since they will also "cancel you for the joke when they decide they are tired of you."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Trump did a pretty good job, he was just uncouth," Benjamin added.
Cleese also wrote that he wrote the post because he has "never tried to amuse the simple-minded."
Cleese has previously received backlash on X, then known as Twitter, for a post he made on the global practice of slavery.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I think it's untrue to suggest that European countries invented slavery," Cleese told his over 5 million followers in January.
"The pyramids were not built by independent contractors. Nor by volunteers," he added. "Sadly, this disgusting practice has always been a worldwide phenomenon. Suggesting otherwise looks to me like a form of racism.
Representatives for Trump and Cleese did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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