The Season 51 premiere of Saturday Night Live (SNL) was a night of laughter, with President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth taking center stage as subjects of comedic mockery during the episode hosted by musician Bad Bunny.
In a particularly biting skit, comedian Colin Jost portrayed Hegseth, poking fun at his recent address to military leaders at Quantico, Virginia. Jost’s character ridiculed Hegseth’s comments about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), jokingly suggesting that those who didn’t want to follow the rules could find a welcoming home with the agency.
“You don’t want to follow the rules? Hey, no problem. You know who’s going to want your sick, twisted, fat ass? ICE,” Jost quipped, before delivering a punchline about a sign-up sheet for ICE being available in the hallway, emphasizing a shift towards a focus on Army personnel only.
The skit took an amusing turn when Trump, represented by James Austin Johnson, made a surprise appearance, humorously claiming that he was monitoring SNL to ensure they didn’t excessively ridicule him.
In a humorous nod to his past criticisms of the show, Trump stated, “And they better be careful, because I know late-night TV like the back of my hand,” then displayed a bruised hand, a reference to photographs showcasing Trump’s own bruising. The White House suggested that the marks were a result of vigorous handshaking and aspirin use.
As the skit continued, Trump threatened that SNL should maintain their decorum, or they would face scrutiny from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr. This led to Mikey Day making a lively entrance as Carr, to the tune of Rockwell’s hit, “Somebody’s Watching Me.”
Historically, Trump has been no stranger to criticism of SNL, having suggested in 2019 that the FCC and Federal Election Commission investigate the show’s treatment of him.
Bad Bunny also addressed controversies surrounding his upcoming performance at the Super Bowl halftime show. The Puerto Rican superstar expressed excitement about the event, saying, “I’m very happy, and I think everyone is happy about it, even Fox News.” He conveyed pride in representing his culture, stating, “It’s more than an achievement for myself, it’s an achievement for all of us… It shows our footprint and our contribution to this country that no one will ever be able to take away or erase.”
He added a light-hearted note for his audience, switching to Spanish to celebrate the Latino community’s contributions.
In a serious turn, Bad Bunny had previously expressed concerns over holding concerts in the U.S., citing potential immigration raids as a reason for excluding the country from his upcoming world tour.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had hinted that ICE agents would be present at the Super Bowl, raising further concerns in the artistic community.
Back in the opening sketch, Johnson’s Trump humorously quoted lines from a birthday card he allegedly wrote to the late Jeffrey Epstein, infamously known for his criminal history. Trump stated, “May every day be another wonderful secret… That was a quote from a poem I wrote to a horrible man I’ve never met before,” which sparked laughter from the audience.
As SNL progressed into its “Weekend Update” segment, co-hosts Jost and Michael Che tackled the government shutdown humorously, along with jokes about New York City Mayor Eric Adams suspending his reelection efforts.
NPR reached out to the White House for comment following the show, only to receive an automated email response that attributed blame for the government shutdown to Democrats, further delaying future responses.
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