The latest episode of Saturday Night Live wasted no time, launching straight into a sharp and fast-paced political sketch that has everyone talking. The iconic comedy show, which aired on 8 November, used its signature satirical style to lampoon a range of current events, from the upcoming 2025 elections and the ongoing government shutdown to a viral incident at the White House.
Oval Office Spoof and Viral Fainting Incident
The sketch opened with a familiar setting: a parody of the Oval Office. The scene was a direct spoof of a recent White House event where price cuts for weight loss drugs were announced, an event that gained notoriety after a representative from a drug company fainted during the proceedings. Stepping into the shoes of Donald Trump was the talented James Austin Johnson, who masterfully captured the former president's mannerisms.
In the skit, Johnson's Trump addressed the fainting incident with his characteristic blend of humour and bluster. He claimed to have had a "very normal" reaction to the man collapsing, quipping, "Just stand there and stare like a sociopath." He continued his monologue by framing the event as a weekly visual metaphor, saying, "Each week, I like to create a big visual that sort of sums up how things are going."
He elaborated, "Last week, it was the demolishing of the East Wing. This week, it's a medical professional almost dying in my Oval Office at the mere thought of charging less for drugs." Looking ahead, he darkly joked, "Maybe next week, a bald eagle will fall dead out of the sky and splat right on the White House lawn. And by lawn, of course, I mean big outdoor concrete floor." He couldn't resist adding one final punchline, "A guy collapsing in the Oval Office. Who'd have thought it'd be not me?"
Jabs at Elections, Grocery Prices, and Flight Chaos
While background actors attended to the fainted man, Johnson's Trump steamrolled ahead with a long monologue touching on several hot-button issues. He joked about the Democrats' significant wins in the Tuesday elections, brushing off media claims that it was a "rebuke" of his policies with the line, "joke’s on them: They’re Stephen Miller’s policies. I don’t read that stuff."
The parody also took aim at the economic anxieties and travel disruptions caused by the government shutdown. On the topic of rising grocery prices, he twisted his own promises, stating, "I promised grocery prices would plummet, and they did: They plummeted straight up." Addressing the issue of widespread flight cancellations, he offered a cynical solution for Thanksgiving, "People are saying, 'But sir, how will I afford my Thanksgiving turkey for my family?' Well, good news is your family's not coming, because all the planes are gone."
Shutdown Vows and Weekend Update Callback
The cold open concluded with the Trump character vowing to prolong the government shutdown, even threatening to "drag" it out and look into "perhaps stealing Christmas." He declared, "We'll be doing Grinch!" leaving the audience with a memorable, if ominous, festive warning.
The fainting incident made a comeback later in the show during the popular "Weekend Update" segment. Anchor Colin Jost chimed in with his own take, joking about Trump's calm demeanour during the chaos, "Whatever they've got Trump on, I want some, because just look how chill he is during all of this. He's just standing there!"
The 8 November episode was notably hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, marking her debut appearance as an SNL host, while the previous week's episode was hosted by Miles Teller.
