Vice President Kamala Harris stirred controversy with an unexpected appearance on the popular comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Departing from Milwaukee in the morning following a lackluster campaign rally, Harris made her way to feature on SNL’s ‘cold open’, a segment known for its political satire.
On SNL, Harris was impersonated by Maya Rudolph, a practice that remains a gimmick of the show, often exploiting their political guests. Meanwhile, the antagonistic humor didn’t stop at Harris, it also spread to her Republican adversary, the former President Donald Trump.
During one sequence, the audience witnessed an act where Trump’s recent rallies in Wisconsin were satirized. An actor sought to dress in an orange high visibility vest similar to the one Trump had donned at a rally near Green Bay, ridiculing the former President’s fashion sense to incite laughter.
The scene attempted to direct attention toward particular comments by current President, Joe Biden, whereby he seemingly labeled Trump supporters as ‘garbage’. This remark came after a comedian at a Trump rally expressed some unsavory words concerning Puerto Rico, branding it a ‘floating island of garbage’.
The impressionistic portrayal of Trump on SNL continued, with the actor reciting a statement about protecting women ‘whether the women like it or not,’ adding to the caricatured representation. During the act, the actor feigned struggles with a faulty microphone, playing up the comedic aspect.
VP Harris, seizing the opportunity for a light-hearted jab, surfaced to offer advice, or rather, unsolicited guidance. ‘I’m just here to remind you, you got this,’ were Harris’ publicly televised words. A questionable sentiment, considering her precarious position and the fact that she was speaking on a comedy show.
Her comment, ‘Because you can do something your opponent cannot do. You can open doors,’ appeared borderline baffling in the context, raising eyebrows among some viewers. The innuendo being, Harris seemed to insinuate that her opponent, Trump, possesses an inability to open doors.
To conclude her appearance on SNL, Rudolph reacted with a forced laugh meant to mimic Harris. This, again, was an obvious attempt to mimic VP Harris, exaggerating her characteristics for comedic gain. However, such actions can leave one wondering about the value of respect in such scenarios.
The entire act ended with a punchline referring to Trump’s alleged struggle to open a door to a MAGA-themed garbage truck prior to his rally in Green Bay. In the realm of political satire, this portrayed Trump in a less than flattering light, subtly implying his potential incompetence.
The final lines, implying Trump’s inability to open a door and reducing him to petty humor, summed up this episode on SNL, depicting a lack of constructive dialogue in our political climate. Harris, although present on the show, seemed to lack the ability to dispel the negative tones that permeated the script.
The SNL episode is indicative of the current political landscape, where politicians are reduced to the punchline of a joke rather than being taken seriously for their policies. Although Harris took part in this theater, it’s worth asking if this is the proper route to be followed by someone in such a crucial position of power.
Making light of political opponents and the citizens of Puerto Rico, the segment lacked the refined humor that older generations of SNL were known for, rather it seemed to exhibit a blatant disregard for the seriousness of the office held by these public figures.
This occurrence might serve as a reflection of the present-day governance style where spectacle seems to take precedence over substance. In an ideal scenario, politicians would be more focused on policy-making and governance, rather than participating in episodes meant for mass entertainment and distributing mockery.
Overall, the event, painted as a humorous take on political occurrences, has the potential of further polarizing audiences and adding to the controversy surrounding both Harris and Biden. The troubling undertones of this significant televised event point towards the current state of our political discourse.
Consequently, the SNL stint by Kamala Harris presents a stark picture of the political climate where politicians, namely Harris and Biden, seemingly favor spectacle over seriousness. As a reflection of their governance, it raises an important question – is this truly the representation we desire from our leaders?