During the House Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing Wednesday, one witness made a backhanded comment about President Donald Trump’s son Barron, prompting backlash from first lady Melania Trump.
“The Constitution doesn’t allow titles of nobility,” the witness, Pamela Karlan, testified. “The president can name his son Barron, but he can’t make him a baron.”
Trump later responded, stating that Karlan should be “ashamed” for using Barron for her “pandering.”
“A minor child deserves privacy and should be kept out of politics,” the first lady tweeted. “Pamela Karlan, you should be ashamed of your very angry and obviously biased public pandering, and using a child to do it.”
The tweet has since been added to the impeachment hearing official record, according to NBC.
Vice President Mike Pence also expressed his disappointment in the remarks that were made, calling them a “new low,” according to CNN.
“The Democrats should be ashamed. Enough is enough,” Pence said. “This sham impeachment should end.”
Karlan, who is a Stanford Law School professor, later apologized at the hearing, stating that she regretted what was said, according to USA Today.
“I want to apologize for what I said earlier about the president’s son. I was wrong of me to do that,” Karlan said. “I wish the president would apologize, obviously, for the things he’s done that’s wrong, but I do regret having said that.”