If Saturday Night Live is next in line in Trump’s war on late night comedy, one thing is certain: they’re going down swinging. The iconic sketch show returned to the little screen on Saturday, 4 October, the opener of its 51st season hosted by crowd favourite Bad Bunny. First aired in October 1975, SNL is now the longest-running American sketch comedy show and marked its 50th season with its highest viewership since 2022.
Now airing for the first time since May, the show returns as late night comedy faces a period of uncertainty; in July, CBS announced that it would cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2026, cited as an economic decision. In September, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was briefly pulled by network ABC after the host made comments on MAGA’s reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. However, after widespread outcry, Kimmel was reinstated, and both hosts have doubled down on their criticism of Trump and his supporters. The President has long shown his disdain for SNL, even though he’s hosted twice, going so far as to suggest in 2019 that the show should be “looked into” for collusion with Democrats and even Russia. Contrary to his Truth Social tirades, SNL, which has long been a source of political satire, does in fact make fun of his rival politicians – his predecessor Joe Biden was particularly ridiculed over his age and capacity for office. Perhaps, then, it is the President’s reaction that makes SNL keep going. After winning the election last year, James Austin Johnson, who has made a name through his Trump impersonation, debuted a new ‘Jacked Trump’ to jokingly win the President’s favour.
So then, with that idea of the show’s somewhat strained relationship with the White House, it has been interesting to see how the cast and writers tackle a chaotic summer in American politics. Each episode begins with a ‘cold open’ before the credits, this time a scene where Pete Hegseth addresses US military officers. Weekend Update co-host Colin Jost’s eerily accurate depiction of Hegseth’s excessive bravado is then interrupted by Johnson as Trump, who jokes “I’m just keeping my eye on SNL, making sure they don’t say anything too mean about me.” With five new cast members, including Ben Marshall of comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy, SNL has a refreshed look, but shows no signs of slowing down the political commentary.
Perhaps the most poignant statement came from the show’s host, Bad Bunny, real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, returned to Studio 8H after recently announcing that he would headline next year’s Super Bowl. However, the Puerto Rican musician opted out of performing in the US on his world tour due to concerns that it would be a hotspot for I.C.E, whose immigration raids have disproportionately affected Latinx communities. In light of ongoing pressure from the Trump administration, Martínez Ocasio ended his otherwise light-hearted monologue with a message of thanks to hardworking Latinx communities: “It’s an achievement for all of us. It shows our footprint, and our contribution to this country, that no one will ever be able to take away or erase.” So, it seems that the first episode of Season 51 is a statement of intent, as neither SNL nor its host have shied away from America’s issues, and rightfully so.
“SNL” by fimoculous is licensed under CC BY 2.0.