Saturday Night Live tackles Donald Trump's tariffs and Morgan Wallen's "God's country" remark in the opening sketch.
Saturday Night Unleashed:
Fellow folks, buckle up! "SNL" cast member James Austin Johnson stepped back into the limelight, impersonating none other than Donald Trump, during this week's cold open. The topic at hand? Trump's recent "Liberation Day" tariff announcement, given a unique spin on the popular show.
Johnson, as the Commander-in-Chief, stood before an adoring audience, mimicking Trump's Rose Garden speech, all while jokingly promising to plunge America back into the Great Depression!
Trump's blunt announcement of 10% tariffs on all imports and jaw-droppingly high tariffs on goods from countries with hefty trade deficits was the talk of the town last week. To add a dash of humor to the scene, Johnson as Trump cracked a joke about chomping down on Fidos and Fluffies when the times get tough!
Referencing Trump's controversial comments regarding Haitian immigrants, Johnson's Trump said that no nation was immune from his tariffs, not even the uninhabited island of McDonald's Island! "Imagine that, a Big Mac in a grass skirt!" declared Trump, promoting images of the chain's iconic golden arches.
Johnson as Trump ended the sketch by expressing his desire to visit this tropical haven, cheekily quoting country singer Morgan Wallen's infamous Instagram snub.
It's also worth mentioning that the show welcomed back the inimitable Mike Myers as Elon Musk! This time around, Musk rocked a Wisconsin cheesehead hat, giving a nod to Musk's involvement in the state's Supreme Court election.
Musical legends Jack Black, Elton John, and Brandi Carlile graced the stage as the night's hosts, making a spectacular comeback for Black, after a 20-year interval!
As a side note, a source close to the situation previously revealed to CNN that Morgan Wallen seemed to have a habit of sticking close to the camera during rehearsals. On the latest episode, Wallen walked off the "SNL" stage without acknowledging his fellow cast members following his performance as the musical guest.
Stay tuned for more "SNL" madness, folks! After all, what's politics without a laugh or two, am I right?
And just for the record, CNN's Bryan Mena contributed to this report, whatever that means...
Enrichment Data
Interested in more juicy details about this sketch? Strap on your stole and read on!
- Myers as Musk - Mike Myers's return to "SNL" didn't just involve Musk himself; he also presented an over-the-top leader of Tesla, introducing absurd new features in response to the South African tariffs, adding another layer to the sketch's humor!
- Political Satire's Effectiveness - The sketch harnesses the power of political satire to flawlessly mock Trump's economical policies, utilizing Johnson's impersonation to critically address potential sources of economic instability.
- Public and Media Reactions - The sketch stirred up mixed reactions, with supporters of satire appreciating the comedic digs at Trump's policies, while detractors might find it disrespectful or biased, encapsulating the usual divide when it comes to political satire.
The sketch on Saturday Night Unleashed featured Mike Myers resuming his role as Elon Musk, this time donning a Wisconsin cheesehead hat in reference to his involvement in the state's Supreme Court election. James Austin Johnson joked about taking America back to the Great Depression while impersonating Donald Trump and mocking his tariff announcements, even adding a humorous reference to McDonald's Island. Jack Black, Elton John, and Brandi Carlile graced the stage as musical hosts for the night, with Johnson cracking a joke about Trump eating pets when times get tough.
