Washington: A Saturday Night Live writer, Katie Rich, has been suspended after posting a tweet mocking US president Donald Trump's youngest son Barron.
On Friday, Rich posted a now-deleted tweet, saying "Barron will be this country's first home-school shooter".
However, her tweet invited wrath of social media.
One Facebook post in reaction to her previous tweet that was shared nearly three million times, read: "NO child deserves to be talked to in such a manner... He is a child, he is to be respected and he is off limits".
Rich later deleted her tweet and even suspended her Twitter account.
But she was back online Monday to issue an apology. "I sincerely apologise for the insensitive tweet. i deeply regret my actions and offensive words. It was inexcusable and I'm so sorry," Rich tweeted.
Trump's 10-year-old youngest son Barron, mocked online for looking bored during his father's inauguration, has found unlikely support from Chelsea Clinton with the former first daughter saying he "deserves the chance every child does -- to be a kid".
As Barron was subjected to taunts from Internet bullies, it was the Chelsea - daughter of Trump's rival Hillary Clinton who jumped to the young boy's defense.