Saturday Night Live (SNL) closed out 2025 with a cold open that set social media abuzz, skewering the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and lampooning the president’s penchant for self-branding. The December 20 episode, hosted by Ariana Grande with musical guest Cher, featured James Austin Johnson’s pitch-perfect impression of Donald Trump delivering a holiday message from the White House. The skit, which aired just a day before the official start of winter, was more than just a comedic sendoff for the year—it was a pointed commentary on a political controversy that refuses to fade.
In the sketch, Johnson’s Trump addressed the incomplete public release of the Epstein files, a topic that has dogged the real-life administration for months. With characteristic bravado, the faux president joked about why his name now adorns Washington, D.C. landmarks such as the U.S. Institute of Peace and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. "People are saying, 'Sir, why are you putting your name on so many buildings?' And I say it's because we had to take it off of so many files," Johnson quipped, referencing the redacted documents that have become a symbol of the administration’s opacity. According to Rolling Stone US, Trump continued, “Epstein—redacted! We had so many ‘Trump’s in there, we had to put them somewhere, you know what I’m saying? I love to say ‘redacted.’ It’s my second-favorite r-word.”
The comedic routine didn’t stop at file redactions. Johnson’s Trump went on to announce a new national event: the Patriot Games, a competition for high school athletes from each state. The event is slated for 2026, coinciding with the country’s 250th anniversary. "I'm inventing my own Hunger Games," Johnson’s Trump declared, making a tongue-in-cheek reference to the popular dystopian novel. "Because I thought, ‘What’s the best to distract from the Epstein files? I know: invite a bunch of teenagers to my house.’ I’ll take ‘things a pedophile might do; for $1000, Alex.’” The punchline, as noted by Rolling Stone US, landed with a mix of shock and laughter, underscoring just how closely the administration’s public image is now tied to the ongoing Epstein saga.
While the SNL writers had their fun, the real-world implications of the Epstein controversy were playing out elsewhere. On December 20, UFC fighter Sean Strickland announced he would not participate in a high-profile fight scheduled at the White House for June 14, 2026—Trump’s 80th birthday and just weeks before the United States’ semiquincentennial. Strickland’s decision, reported by Nexstar Media Inc., was directly linked to the Trump administration’s recent, highly publicized release of Epstein-related documents. He told streamer Adin Ross, “I think I’d wanna do the White House… if there was some kind of inclusion for fans. So, if there was some kind of inclusion for fans, it’d be more … but like, just to go hang out with the f—ing Epstein list? I’m good, dog. I’m good, dude.”
Strickland’s withdrawal wasn’t an isolated incident. The controversy surrounding the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has led other fighters to distance themselves from the White House event. UFC fighter Brandon Royval, for example, lambasted the concept of fighting in front of political elites, likening it to a real-life Hunger Games. “I don’t give a f‑‑‑ about any of our political figures right now, and it’s like to fight in front of them seems like some f‑‑‑ing ‘Hunger Games’ type of f‑‑‑ing s‑‑‑,” Royval said. “I don’t give a f‑‑‑ to fight in front of some f‑‑‑ing billionaires and rich people that could give a s‑‑‑ less about me. Probably throwing parlays. F‑‑‑ you guys.” Royval also expressed concern about being profiled by immigration authorities, saying, “Also, I’m too Mexican-looking. [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is suspiciously arresting motherf‑‑‑ers, and I don’t know. Who knows, bro? Next thing you know, I’m in Mexico and I don’t speak Spanish.”
The White House fight, scheduled for June 14, is still set to air on CBS, according to UFC chief Dana White. Irish superstar Conor McGregor has confirmed his participation, but the event’s lineup remains in flux as more fighters voice their misgivings. Former MMA champion Ronda Rousey, too, has questioned the details and wisdom of the White House bout, adding to the chorus of skepticism from the fighting community.
The catalyst for much of this unrest was the Trump administration’s release of new Epstein-related files, a move compelled by the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act signed into law in late November 2025. The documents, which include images, flight logs, and correspondence, were made public after years of speculation and pressure from both lawmakers and the public. Yet, as SNL’s cold open so gleefully pointed out, many of the released pages are so heavily redacted as to be nearly unreadable. In one memorable moment, Johnson’s Trump held up a page and read, “‘Trump…didn’t…do…nothing…bad.’” He moved on to another, “‘Trump…does…smash…but…not…like…wrong…kind. The end.’” He concluded, “See, it’s all there. Can you believe it?”
The resurfacing of photos showing Trump with Epstein in recent weeks has only intensified scrutiny, raising fresh questions about the president’s knowledge of Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking activities. Trump, for his part, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after learning of the financier’s behavior. As Nexstar Media Inc. reported, Trump “has not been accused of wrongdoing,” but the optics of the situation have proven difficult to manage, especially as the administration tries to celebrate historic milestones and plan high-profile events.
Meanwhile, SNL’s year-end episode was notable not just for its political satire, but also for marking the final appearance of longtime cast member Bowen Yang, who received an emotional sendoff from both the audience and his peers. The show has undergone significant changes this season, adding five new cast members and elevating comedian Ashley Padilla as a breakout star. The next season is set to kick off on January 17, with Finn Wolfhard hosting and A$AP Rocky as the musical guest.
As the nation heads into 2026, the intersection of politics, sports, and entertainment remains as tangled as ever. Whether through biting satire or candid athlete commentary, the shadow of Jeffrey Epstein continues to loom over the Trump administration, casting doubt on its attempts at transparency and distracting from its efforts to celebrate American milestones. The coming months will reveal whether the administration can shift the narrative—or whether the files, redacted or not, will keep haunting the headlines.