‘SNL’ Cold Open Skewers Trump‘s Late-Night TV Crackdown
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New York, NY – 2024-03-09 23:37:00 EST – Saturday Night Live‘s cold open on march 9, 2024, lampooned former President Donald Trump’s recent attacks on late-night comedy shows and his public persona, notably focusing on his perceived obsession with appearance. The sketch centered around a fictional Pentagon meeting and featured impressions of Trump and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.
The segment arrives amid escalating rhetoric from Trump, who has publicly demanded that cable networks cease airing shows he deems critical, threatening legal action and accusing them of spreading fake news
.This follows a pattern of Trump’s attempts to control media narratives, raising concerns about potential First Amendment implications and the future of political satire. The sketch’s timing suggests a direct response to these developments, offering a comedic critique of Trump’s behavior and its potential impact on public discourse.
Sketch Parodies Pentagon Aesthetics
The SNL cold open began with a spoof of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (played by Colin Jost) addressing generals at Quantico, Virginia. Hegseth’s speech emphasized a strict aesthetic standard for Pentagon personnel.
“this is the whole meeting: No fuggos, no fatties, no facial hair, no body hair – just hot shredded, hairless men who are definitely not gay,” Jost’s Hegseth declared, clad in a tight-fitting suit. This line set the stage for the entrance of Donald Trump, portrayed by James Austin johnson.
Trump’s Riffing and Controversial Joke
Johnson’s Trump delivered a rambling address, touching on various topics while the generals remained largely impassive. During the sketch, Trump broke the fourth wall to comment on Jost. I’m surprised Colin’s here,
Johnson’s Trump said. I thought he would be with his friends at the Riyadh Comedy festival.
Jost responded, I didn’t get an offer.
Trump then quipped, well, that’s sad.We like the Saudis because they like to saw deez journalists in half,
a line that drew audible groans from the audience.
the point of Trump’s appearance appeared to be to play catch-up on some of what was missed over the summer,
according to reporting on the sketch. Johnson’s Trump also referenced his claims of ending wars and initiating new conflicts, and boasted, They all say to me, ‘Sir, how will you pay for all of this?’ And I tell them, with my scams! My stunning scams!
He concluded with the line, Well, here we go, and remember, daddy’s watching.
did You Know?
Donald Trump has a long history of criticizing media outlets and personalities he perceives as unfavorable, often labeling them as fake news
and accusing them of bias.
Pro Tip:
Political satire often serves as a form of social commentary, using humor to critique power structures and public figures.
Key Moments from the Sketch
| Character | Actor | Key Line |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump | James Austin Johnson | “With my scams! My beautiful scams!” |
| Pete Hegseth | Colin Jost | “No fuggos, no fatties…” |
| Trump (on colin Jost) | James Austin Johnson | “I thought he would be in Riyadh…” |
Watch the full sketch here:
What did you think of the sketch’s portrayal of Trump? Do you believe satire is an effective way to address political issues?
Background: Trump and Late-Night Television
Donald Trump’s relationship with late-night television has been consistently contentious. Throughout his career, and particularly during his presidency (2017-2021), he frequently criticized comedians like Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Trevor Noah for their jokes and commentary. these criticisms frequently enough involved accusations of unfairness, bias, and hatred
. His recent threats against cable networks represent an escalation of this long-standing conflict, potentially setting a precedent for future attempts to control media coverage. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of speech, including political satire, but the boundaries of that protection are often debated, especially when it comes to defamation and incitement.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the main focus of the ‘SNL’ sketch? The sketch primarily satirized Donald Trump’s recent criticisms of late-night television and his obsession with appearance.
- Who played Donald Trump on ‘SNL’? James Austin Johnson portrayed Donald Trump in the sketch.
- What was the controversial joke in the ‘SNL’ sketch? Trump joked about Saudi Arabia’s alleged practice of murdering journalists.
- Why is Trump criticizing late-night TV now? Trump is upset with jokes and commentary made about him on late-night shows and is threatening legal action.
- Does Trump have a history of criticizing the media? Yes, Trump has a long history of attacking media outlets and personalities he deems unfavorable.
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