The November 2024 “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) episode after the recent U.S. presidential election featured a satirical take on Donald Trump’s re-election. Cast members like Bowen Yang, Kenan Thompson, and Ego Nwodim appeared as themselves in the cold open, playing on the premise of flattering Trump despite their previous criticisms. The sketch leaned into an exaggerated theme of SNL’s “support” for Trump, a sarcastic homage to political loyalty, with Yang humorously declaring, “We have never wavered in our support for you,” a line that poked fun at the expectation of public figures to align with political figures they previously criticized.
The sketch brought back James Austin Johnson’s notable Trump impression, featuring a “Jacked Trump” character, a more muscular caricature of Trump who joked about becoming president and even “king,” before Johnson humorously winked at the audience, breaking the “character’s” loyalty. Dana Carvey joined as an edgy version of Elon Musk, who boasted that America, under his guidance, would become powerful yet chaotic, much like his ventures in space. The episode ended with a spirited “YMCA” rendition, mocking Trump’s campaign playlist choices.
SNL’s satirical sketches, especially in post-election episodes, have often balanced pointed humor with critiques of political figures. This latest sketch underscores the cast’s traditional irreverence, aiming to capture both the shock and intrigue of recent political developments with a humorous slant on how media often shifts in response to political power dynamics. For a deeper look at SNL’s full cast performances and new season highlights, see the sources on NBC and GQ.
SNL cast members share a post-election message pic.twitter.com/jTXqJCxpIL
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 10, 2024
