“Saturday Night Live” borrowed a page from some contemporary politicians by going from being critics of Donald Trump’s to being some of his most ardent supporters.
After witnessing Trump’s Nov. 5 win for a second presidential term, separated by President Joe Biden’s own time as commander-in-chief, repertory players of the show each professed their devotion to the political leader.
“The results were shocking and even horrifying,” Ego Nwodim said, with Heidi Gardner adding that Trump “tried to forcibly overturn the results of the last election” and Kenan Thompson noting that the president-elect “openly called for vengeance against his political enemies.”
But, Thompson continued later: “That is why we at ‘SNL’ would like to say to you, Donald Trump, we … have been with you all along.”
The statement may have come as a surprise to longtime viewers of the sketch comedy show, but cast members, looking out for their future under a second Trump administration, made clear that he has been a longtime favorite.
“We have never wavered in our support of you, even when others doubted you,” Bowen Yang said.
Marcello Hernández added, “Every single person on this stage voted for you.”
“Because we see ourselves in you,” Nwodim said. “We look at you and think, ‘That’s me.'”
“That’s the man I want my future children to look up to,” said Sarah Sherman.
And, should anyone accuse cast members of being insincere or secret critics of Trump’s, they quickly began throwing people under the bus.
Colin Jost dropped the name of his co-anchor on the “Weekend Update” satirical news segment.
“Mr. Trump, your honor,” he said, “we know that you say things that are controversial sometimes, but really you’re just speaking the truth. And I hate how the lamestream media, Michael Che, tries to spin it to make you look foolish.”
Sherman described the show’s latest talents — Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline — as supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the presidential race to Trump. She called them “three disgusting new cast members.”
The show soon unveiled a new impression of Trump by James Austin Johnson, whose past reflections of the former president included meandering speeches about windmills and television shows.
This time Johnson appeared in a muscle suit.
“That’s right, it’s me: Hot, Jacked Trump,” he said. “They finally got the body right.”
Johnson was nothing but supportive, saying, “He’s going to make an incredible president and, eventually, king.”
Trump supporter and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, portrayed by former cast member Dana Carvey, made an appearance by jumping up and down on stage, where he touted Space X rockets as “super cool.”
“Check it out, Dark MAGA — yeah,” he said. “But seriously, I run the country now.”
The cast addressed what many pundits have said was the key demographic in the 2024 presidential election: young men who feel unseen.
“We say to you, young men, there’s no need to feel down,” Yang said, starting a sing-along to the introductory lines of one of Trump’s favorite songs, the Village People’s “YMCA.”
Comedian and host Bill Burr also addressed the election, telling women, “You’re 0 and 2 against this guy,” and suggesting women running for the highest office avoid pant suits.
Burr said the highlight of campaign season was Trump’s visit to a McDonald’s, where he watched french fries being made and served. The comedian said it was the only time he had seen Trump truly happy, “glowing,” even, as he stuffed a few extra fries into someone’s order.
“Oh my God,” he said. “Was that empathy?”
News segment “Weekend Update” addressed Trump’s win with the show’s more typically acerbic humor.
“On Tuesday, we learned that Democrats don’t actually know how to rig an election,” Jost said.
He expressed faith in the Democratic Party’s ability to learn from the loss.
“I know Democrats are going to take a long look in the mirror, learn from their mistakes and then run Biden again in 2028,” he said.
The show’s musical guest was Mk.gee.
“Saturday Night Live” and NBC News share a parent company, NBCUniversal.