Chris Christie's day in the sun got him burned by the internet

What a fun day!

You'd think a man could take his family to the beach and be left in peace.

That's not really the case when your government shuts down the beach and you take advantage of seaside property closed to the public.

This is what deeply unpopular New Jersey Governor Chris Christie discovered Monday as candid photos emerged of what looked like a super fun day for him and his family at Island Beach State Park.

SEE ALSO: Fourth of July foods, ranked

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Sure, the regular ol' population weren't allowed to sun themselves on the beach's breezy shores, due to a budget standoff that shut down the state government July 1 and closed down many state-operated facilities. But that didn't stop the ex-presidential candidate and aspiring Curb Your Enthusiasm actor from shepherding his family to a wholesome jaunt denied to basically everyone else.

Mashable Top Stories

Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.

By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thanks for signing up!

Indeed, as reported by the New York Times, "His outing came as the state park police were turning away families who arrived at the beach’s main gate hoping to spend the day by the ocean."

And really, what good is freedom if you can't spend the Fourth of July by the beach?

As the photos circulated across a bitterly cynical internet, outrage, scorn, and ridicule flew in the governor's direction. But if you think that will teach the embattled Christie humility, then think again.

"What a great bit of journalism by The Star-Ledger," the supposedly tanned and rested Christie told FOX5NY Monday morning. "They actually caught a politician being where he said he was going to be with the people he said he was going to be with, his wife and children and their friends. I am sure they will get a Pulitzer for this one."

We can only guess he was being sarcastic.

All of this has only inspired his critics who made some pretty good jokes on Twitter and beyond.