SNL Opens Season with Trump Roasts, bad Bunny Shout-out Amid Political tensions
New York, NY – Saturday night Live kicked off its 49th season with a politically charged premiere, featuring pointed satire of Donald Trump and a nod to criticism surrounding Bad Bunny‘s upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance. The episode, hosted by Pete Davidson, addressed current events including the ongoing government shutdown and recent controversies surrounding the former president.
The show’s opening skit centered on a mock interview between SNL cast members portraying Trump and Fox News host Pete Hegseth. During the segment, Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, referenced lines allegedly penned in a birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein, denying authorship while reciting the controversial phrases. The skit also touched on Homeland Security, with a joke referencing ICE agents possibly being present at the Super Bowl, prompted by comments made by Secretary Kristi Noem during a recent podcast interview.
beyond the political jabs, the episode acknowledged the debate surrounding Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl appearance, featuring a visual of the artist alongside text reading, “Expect a lot of Puerto Rican pride.” This comes as some conservative voices have criticized the selection of the Puerto Rican superstar for the high-profile performance.
The show’s “Weekend Update” segment continued the political commentary, with jokes directed at the government shutdown and New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ recent campaign developments.
The White House responded to NPR’s request for comment with an initial automated reply blaming Democrats for the shutdown. later, White house Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson issued a statement dismissing the show, stating she had “more entertaining things to do – like watch paint dry.” The episode reflects a continuing trend of SNL utilizing its platform to engage with and satirize contemporary political and cultural issues, frequently enough drawing immediate reactions from those featured in its sketches.
