Donald Trump's recent criticism of Sacha Baron Cohen's new "Borat" sequel is nothing but "free publicity," according to Baron Cohen, who tweeted a response to the president's comments on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The comments in question were made aboard Air Force One Friday, when a reporter asked Trump if he had concerns about potential breaches of security.
The reporter was referencing a scene from Baron Cohen's movie that the actor promoted on social media the night of the final presidential debate. It shows actress Maria Bakalova, posing as "Tutar," the Borat character's 15-year-old daughter apparently walking, unvetted, into the White House while "job-shadowing" OAN reporter Chanel Rion.
According to USA Today, Trump responded by saying he wasn't aware of "what happened" with the seemingly unofficial entry. He then attacked Cohen, whose new film sarcastically posits his Kazakh Borat character as a "MAGA" supporter.
"Years ago, you know, he tried to scam me," Trump told the press corps on Air Force One. "That's a phony guy. And I don't find him funny."
The president then said the "scam" took place 15 years ago. "To me he was a creep," he added.
On Saturday, Baron Cohen responded to Trump's dis.
"Donald—I appreciate the free publicity for Borat!" he posted. "I admit, I don't find you funny either. But yet the whole world laughs at you. I'm always looking for people to play racist buffoons, and you'll need a job after Jan. 20. Let's talk!"
Baron Cohen's film, "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," also made headlines last week, thanks to a scene in which Trump's personal lawyer, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, takes part in what he doesn't realize is a fake interview conducted Bakalova, again posing as Borat's daughter and a journalist.
After the interview, Bakalova, 24, invites Giuliani, 76, to a hotel room for a drink.
The room has apparently been set up with hidden cameras, which proceed to film Giuliani as he encourages the would-be journalist to give him her "phone number and address" before lying down and seemingly reaching into his pants.
The "Borat" sequel is currently streaming on Aamazon Prime.