>> 10 sassy signs from women's marches around the world

"Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election!" Trump tweeted. "Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly." 

Then just an hour-and-a-half later, Trump sent another tweet clearly softening his tone toward the protesters. He tweeted, "Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views."

Trump's tweets came after a White House official slammed the media and pop star Madonna in comments over the protests.

"It's a shame that the March for Life, which estimates the same number of marchers in DC (650,000 in 2013) and will be happening next Friday, will not get anywhere near the same amount of coverage that this march got – and those pro-life members were NOT welcome at the Women's March," the Trump administration official said, according to NBC News. "The organizers noted that their platform is pro-choice and they revoked partnership status' (sic) from pro-life groups."

>> PHOTOS: Women march around the world

>> Celebrities show solidarity with Women's March