"Saturday Night Live" Takes Aim at Trump’s Brief Return to the White House
This past weekend, "Saturday Night Live" kicked off its latest episode with a comedic look at former President Donald Trump’s first 100 days back in office. Cast member James Austin Johnson, channeling Trump, humorously remarked, "It has been a hundred years since I became president. Excuse me, days, wow. Feels longer." The scene was set in a faux Oval Office, where Johnson’s Trump was joined by an exaggerated character, a Deputy Chief of Staff humorously labeled as the "Lord of the Shadows."
The sketch showcased Trump’s busy start to his second term, with the fictional president quickly signing executive orders on various contentious topics, including immigration policies. In a standout moment, the character claimed to have signed 147 executive orders, ranging from banning paper straws to reducing funding for public broadcasting, stating, "I understand Elmo has now been apprehended by ICE."
The timing of the sketch was particularly interesting, coming just days after Trump marked the real milestone of 100 days since his return to the presidency. In a playful jab at current cultural events, the show featured Trump humorously enacting a policy that made it "socially acceptable for a man in his 70s to date a 24-year-old," reference to recent headlines involving public figures.
The sketch also poked fun at economic worries, with Trump whimsically renaming economic downturns from "recession" to "recess." He quipped, "So, America, get ready for a historically long recess. I call tetherball," suggesting a carefree attitude towards significant financial issues.
Practically every character in the parody served to highlight perceived absurdities in policy decisions, including a fictional Secretary of State portrayed as reluctantly endorsing ludicrous directives, such as barring "Hispanic babies from getting their ears pierced."
Overall, the episode strived to shine a light on the controversies surrounding Trump’s latest term while using humor to address public sentiment towards current events. The sketch serves as a reminder of the ongoing national conversation about leadership and policies, urging viewers to reflect on the broader implications of such governance beyond the laughs.
