Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" took the political world by storm as co-hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost tackled the controversy surrounding Donald Trump's inaugural antics and Elon Musk's questionable salute. It's hard to make light of serious subjects like these, but the duo managed to turn political absurdity and social issues inside out, delivering laughs amid chaos.
Jost initiated their banter by touching on Trump's peculiar decision to not place his hand on the Lincoln Bible during his oath. "Well, he tried to, but the Bible screamed," he quipped, setting the comedic tone immediately. By drawing on historical references like Lincoln, Jost effectively highlights Trump's current significance—or lack thereof—while appealing to the audience's sense of irony.
From there, the jokes evolved to address the magnitude of Trump’s executive actions. "During his address, President Trump said he was changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America," Jost continued, tossing out another zinger about Hillary Clinton, who was seen laughing, and Kamala Harris, who seemed lost, perhaps under the influence of edibles. The way these observations blend humor with political commentary shows SNL's unique knack for addressing sensitive topics candidly.
Following this, Che took the opportunity to comment on Trump’s pardoning spree, which included about 1,500 individuals involved with the January 6 insurrection. Notably, he referenced Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, convicted of seditious conspiracy and subjected to 18 years behind bars. "And ladies, just like his eyes, he’s single!" joked Che, guiding the audience through dark humor surrounding grim subjects with ease.
Che emphasized Trump’s justification for his pardons: "President Trump defended his pardon of the January 6 attackers, saying these are just people who love their country; you know, like how O.J. loved Nicole." The punchline cleverly juxtaposes love and judicial consequence, providing another layer of comedic relief.
Next, the stage was set for Musk, who has faced backlash recently for giving what many interpreted as a Nazi salute during his post-inauguration speech. Che addressed this, saying, "Elon Musk was criticized for his speech at a rally after the inauguration in which he appears to give the Nazi salute. But come on, Elon Musk is not a Nazi; the Nazis made nice cars." His remark invoked laughter at the absurdity of branding Musk with such labels based on gestures alone, highlighting the societal temptation to jump to conclusions.
Jost then tackled Trump's termination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, quipping, "Worse, the order began, ‘Listen up, gaywads.'" This tongue-in-cheek approach captures the ridiculousness of the policy changes and effectively demonstrates the hosts' alignment with progressive values by lampooning retrogressive rhetoric.
The humor didn’t stop there; Jost light-heartedly referenced social media's role, joking about the White House posting pictures of migrants boarding planes for deportation, stating, "Trump said the deportations won’t stop until a white kid wins the spelling bee." This critique of deportations highlights the comedic lens on complex issues like immigration and social justice, presenting them as subjects worthy of scrutiny yet palatable through humor.
SNL also featured cast member Ego Nwodim, who appeared as Giselle, a businesswoman who voters for Trump, urging Black women to stock up on wigs before tariffs hit. "Black women… it is time to act, and buy all the hair and extensions you need before those tariffs kick in. You heard me. We not getting no more Malaysian hair, no Peruvian hair, Indian or Brazilian. We not even gonna be getting no Irish. We about to be in a pickle, a bald-headed pickle," she warned. This joke cleverly taps both on cultural identity and the fashion industry’s reliance on international markets, melding social commentary with humor seamlessly.
Andrew Dismukes also made appearances, playfully christening himself the 17th most famous cast member on SNL, presumably comparing his notoriety humorously against Jost's 16th position. Their banter and playful rivalries serve to keep the tone lighthearted, even when discussing weighty political topics.
The segments from SNL's "Weekend Update" served not just to provide comic relief but also to act as commentaries on political missteps and public sentiment. Each joke deftly managed to reveal societal truths wrapped within humor, showcasing how comedy can resonate with audiences, even during tumultuous times. With Che and Jost at the helm, SNL proved once again to be not just entertainment, but also a cultural mirror reflecting the absurdities of the current political climate.