The White House vs. 'SNL': A Feud That Just Won't Quit
The Trump administration and Saturday Night Live have never exactly been the best of friends, and it seems like the tension is far from over. But here's where it gets controversial... While many might expect the latest clash to revolve around Bad Bunny—the Puerto Rican singer who’s been vocal about Trump’s immigration policies—this time, it’s all about the show’s season premiere cold open. And let’s just say, the White House isn’t laughing.
In the sketch, James Austin Johnson’s spot-on Donald Trump impersonation took center stage, warning SNL to be on its “best behavior” or face the wrath of his FCC “attack dog.” The White House’s response? A shrug and a snarky comment. “Reacting to this would require me to waste my time watching it,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Entertainment Weekly. “And like millions of Americans who’ve tuned out of SNL, I’ve got better things to do—like watching paint dry.” Ouch. Is this a fair jab, or is the White House just playing the victim?
The segment didn’t stop at Trump. Colin Jost’s Pete Hegseth character declared the military “gay as hell” and joked it should be filled with “hot, shredded, hairless men who are definitely not gay.” Meanwhile, the faux Trump interrupted a discussion about the greatest threat to democracy, quipping, “Late-night TV... I’m just here keeping an eye on SNL. Making sure they don’t say anything too mean about me.” But here’s the part most people miss... The sketch also took a swipe at the show itself, with the fake Trump suggesting SNL should’ve called it quits after 50 seasons. “So sad to see something get old and confused and still demand your constant attention,” he said. “But they better behave, or they’ll answer to my attack dog at the FCC, Brandon Carr.” (Yes, he got the name wrong—it’s Brendan.)
And in a chilling reminder, the faux Trump closed with, “Daddy’s watching.” Is this just comedy, or does it cross a line? The FCC’s recent pressure on ABC, which led to Disney briefly pulling Trump critic Jimmy Kimmel off the air, adds a layer of unease to the joke.
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny—who’s no stranger to clashing with the Trump administration over immigration—added fuel to the fire with his SNL guest host gig. In his intro, he playfully warned viewers in Spanish that if they didn’t understand him, they had four months to learn before the Super Bowl. But here’s the real question... Is the White House’s dismissive response to SNL a sign of indifference, or is it a strategic move to downplay the show’s influence? And more importantly, does comedy still have the power to hold those in power accountable, or are we just watching paint dry? Let us know what you think in the comments—this is one debate that’s far from over.
