In a recent episode of “Saturday Night Live,” the show turned its satirical lens on a hot-button issue involving former President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This dramatic cold open featured James Austin Johnson portraying Trump, as he navigated the implications of emails released by the House Oversight Committee that linked him with Epstein.
SNL Tackles Trump’s Epstein Emails in Cold Open
The sketch started with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, played by Ashley Padilla. In a comedic twist, Leavitt expressed disbelief at the week’s revelations, asserting, “There was no news this week, nothing happening with the president, no weird information was revealed!”
As reporters challenged her about Trump’s name appearing in the Epstein emails, Padilla’s character tried to downplay the situation. “If anything, his crime was loving too much, and possibly too young,” she humorously insisted.
Trump’s “Suspicious” Defenses
Johnson, impersonating Trump, humorously claimed, “I’m hiding almost nothing about Epstein, just enough to make it extremely suspicious.” He went on to say, “Jeffrey Epstein, I barely knew the guy, OK? As evidenced by the thousands of pictures of us together.” The act poked fun at the myriad photos of Trump with Epstein at various social events.
Glen Powell Hosts SNL
The episode aired on November 15, hosted by Glen Powell, coinciding with the release of his action film “The Running Man.” This marked Powell’s first hosting gig on “SNL,” though he had made a cameo in 2024.
In his opening monologue, Powell addressed criticism of his frequent appearances, asking, “You know who is not tired of seeing my face? Your mom,” eliciting laughs from the audience.
Musical Guest and Upcoming Episodes
- Olivia Dean served as the musical guest during the episode.
- Prior to Powell, Nikki Glaser hosted on November 8, touching on dark themes in her monologue.
- Melissa McCarthy is scheduled to return as a host on December 6, accompanied by musical guest Dijon.
This season of “SNL” is marked by the departure of key cast members, creating a fresh dynamic as the show navigates political satire in its 51st season.
