Emmys 2016: Veep showrunner David Mandel slams Donald Trump's horrific campaign

Veep took home a pair of Emmys Sunday night for its biting political satire, but the showrunner of the HBO series thinks the current election cycle is no laughing matter.

Speaking to reporters backstage at the 68th annual ceremony in Los Angeles, executive producer David Mandel blasted Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his controversial rhetoric, noting it makes Mandel’s own job much more difficult.

“There are days when things we think of pale in comparison to that madman threatening Hillary Clinton, not once but twice,” Mandel said when asked his thoughts about this year’s campaign. “If I wrote that, I’d get fired by HBO.” (Trump has raised the specter of violence against Clinton twice in recent weeks.)

“I find the level of discourse in his campaign to be horrific,” Mandel continued, adding, “It makes comedy way tougher. It’s just so hard when I think there’s a lot of people that don’t want to laugh about this kind of stuff. It makes our job that much harder. It makes us coming up with ideas and stories that much harder, I think.”

Asked about how to prevent Trump from winning the White House, Mandel stressed the importance of going to the polls. “Vote,” he said. “No matter where you are, no matter who you are, your vote counts, and if you feel like people don’t listen or you’re not part of the system, vote. “

With reporting by Marc Snetiker.