Obama smartly turned Republican heckling around and, with a lopsided smile, added an off-the-script line back at his critics.
Obama smartly turned Republican heckling around and, with a lopsided smile, added an off-the-script line back at his critics.Twitter/Jay Janger

President Barack Obama hammered and silenced Republican hecklers in an unscripted moment during the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night.

The quick, off-scrip jab, which the US leader couldn't resist, was aimed at the Republicans cheering on the news of his exit from office. "I have no more campaigns to run," Obama said at one point – a statement that prompted unexpected applause which turned into a heckling against him.

But as laughter filled the packed room, Obama smartly turned it around and, with a lopsided smile, added an off-the-script line back at his critics.

"I know because I won both of them," was his quip – a comment that earned a standing ovation from many members of the congress.

No sooner had the awkward moment hit the State of the Union address, than members of Twitter erupted with jokes and memes. Here are look at some of them:

"Obama is handling the GOP like a trained comedian handles hecklers. He should do standup after this term." – Mike Ryan

"Pres. Obama smacks down hecklers who clapped at the fact he has no more campaigns to run. "I know, cause I won both of them.'"—Erich Zimmermann

"Pres. Obama could have a second career as a standup - he's got the handling hecklers thing down pat" -- @Paula_Jeanne