“SNL” Returns to Satire After Trump Allegiance
“Saturday Night Live” cast members returned to their signature biting satire after briefly hedging their bets the previous week by expressing support for President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump and Biden Meet at the White House
In a sketch about the meeting between outgoing President Joe Biden and Trump at the White House, the show mocked Trump’s unconventional cabinet picks. Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, and Biden, portrayed by former cast member Dana Carvey, began a serious discussion after reporters were shooed out of the room.
While journalists shouted questions from the background, Carvey’s Biden complained about his dog attacking foreign leaders who visited the White House. Johnson’s Trump responded with his own issue, stating, “I can’t go back to Mar-a-Lago, Joe, because Elon is there and he will not leave.”
Trump’s Cabinet Picks and Melania’s Role
Trump then addressed his cabinet selections, boasting about choosing “the most epic cabinet of all time.” He added, “We’ve got Elon and Matt Gaetz. That’s an ‘Aliens vs. Predator.’” He continued, “We’ve got Kristi Noem and RFK Jr. They’re killing the dogs. They’re killing the bears.”
Trump also revealed that Melania would “be working remotely from divorce.” Repertory player Sarah Sherman portrayed Gaetz, who Trump picked to oversee the Department of Justice, which had previously investigated him.
Alec Baldwin made a surprise cameo as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., delivering a line in his vaccine-skeptic persona: “I care deeply about a woman’s right to choose — to choose to give her child polio.”
Biden’s Refusal of a Cabinet Position
Trump even offered Biden a position in his cabinet, but Biden declined, saying he would be “doing what every worn-down old guy does: I’m going to fight Jake Paul.”
“Banger Boyz!” Podcast Sketch
In another sketch, “Banger Boyz!”—a mock podcast aimed at a male audience—featured an amusing interaction with Trump. Podcaster Dugan, played by Marcello Hernández, received a call from Trump, who claimed to be naming him the Secretary of Commerce. A second call came in for cohost PJ, played by new cast member Emil Wakim, who was named the new Ambassador to Iran.
“Weekend Update” on Trump’s Choices
The “Weekend Update” segment also focused on Trump’s cabinet selections. Co-host Colin Jost remarked that the incoming president “continued to announce everyone he’s going to fire in six months.”
Host Charli XCX
Charli XCX served as both the host and musical guest for the night.
“Saturday Night Live” airs on NBC, a division of NBCUniversal, which also owns NBC News.
