In his first news conference after Tuesday’s elections, Speaker John A. Boehner had stern words for President Barack Obama and his expected executive action on immigration, telling the president he was inviting “big trouble” if he continued to act without Congress on issues such as immigration.

Asked whether the president would be “poisoning the well” with Congress if he issued an executive action on immigration, Boehner offered this advice: “When you play with matches, you take the risk of burning yourself. And he’s going to burn himself if he continues to go down this path.”

“The American people made it clear on Election Day,” Boehner said, “they want to get things done — and they don’t want the president acting on a unilateral basis.”