Following the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, Saturday Night Live, a well-known entertainment show, shifted gears from a serious tone to a more lighthearted approach. The November 9 episode came to life with a quartet from the team embarking on the post-election commentaries, where the re-elected President Donald Trump (enthusingly portrayed by James Austin Johnson) was showcased with a surprisingly muscular new appearance.
Outspoken members of the team, including Kenan Thompson, Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, and Bowen Yang, began the episode by addressing the unexpected victory that sent a wave of surprise riding through segments of the electorate. Meanwhile, they posited that despite the element of surprise, the populace had once again chosen the very same Donald Trump, demonstrating his undeniable popularity.
Johnson, in his famous portrayal of Trump, advanced to the stage alluding to having the President’s physique just right – a ‘hot jacked’ version of Trump that no one had seen before. Thompson, amidst the comedy, playfully reassured President Trump of their unwavering ‘support’ while Yang further strengthened their claim by emphasizing on their consistent backing.
In a twist of humor, Sarah Sherman and Marcello Hernández, other members of the SNL case, jestingly stated that ‘every single person’ on stage cast their vote in favor of Trump. This statement humorously aimed to depict the unanimous support for the newly re-elected president despite the varied political stances that are often held within diverse groups such as the SNL team.
Colin Jost, with a faux serious demeanor, expressed that although Trump’s statements may be tagged ‘controversial’ by some, he was merely speaking his mind. Jost then humorously blamed his colleague, Michael Che, attributing to him the portrayal of Trump as foolish by the so-called ‘lamestream media’.
With the humor meter rising, Thompson hinted at Trump’s ‘famous list of enemies’, asserting that the SNL team should be nowhere near it. Meanwhile, Hernández jumped in, completing Thompson’s humorous assertions in the same bantering tone.
Sharing further in the jest, the team affirmed that they all voted for Trump, going ahead to discuss the newcomers who hadn’t cast their votes yet. Sherman, in this sea of humor, enthusiastically announced their new impression of the re-elected President, nicknaming it ‘hot jacked Trump’.
Seizing the moment, Johnson made his appearance with a slimmed-down look, a bold black tank top, a striking red bandana, and a set of impressively enlarged faux muscles, embodying the ‘hot jacked Trump’.
Pouring more humor into the moment, Johnson, mirroring Trump, took center stage. He expressed delight at the vanity of his portrayal, framing Trump up as not just an incredible president but a potential ‘king’ as well.
In yet another twist of humor, Thompson joked about the potential of colonizing Mars if Earth were to fall apart, pointing to one of the planet’s most trusted entrepreneurs, Elon Musk. Following Thompson’s light-hearted remarks, an enthusiastic Dana Carvey burst onto the stage, personifying the billionaire tycoon himself, Musk.
Carvey, clad in a ‘Dark MAGA’ hat, and dressed in a manner reminiscent of Musk’s attire at a Trump rally, exuded a great deal of enthusiasm in his performance. Filled with hilarious exaggeration, he declared himself in charge of the country, making lively comparisons between the country and Musk’s rockets. With that, Carvey brought even more levity to the ongoing banter with the SNL team.
Immersed in the scene, Carvey added a dominion of humor, painting a picture of the country being super cool and enjoyable, but with a comical assumption that a slight hiccup could bring subsequent mayhem. After charming the audience with the concept of ‘USA’ chants being hurled mid-air, Carvey exited the stage, leaving behind an arena filled with laughter.
As the mass of performers regained composure, they engaged the audience with a rendition of the Village People’s classic hit ‘Y.M.C.A.’, giving it a humorous spin by addressing the young electorate who played their part in electing Trump. This was a comedic nod towards the influencing role young people play in any political process.
This riveting episode of SNL rolled out in the wake of the surprising twist of the 2024 presidential election, where Trump triumphantly emerged victorious. It was yet another colorful milestone in NBC’s long-running show, which previously hosted Vice President Kamala Harris in an unexpected visit just days earlier. In all its humor and jest, it highlighted the captivating spectacle that political discourses often turn into, while simultaneously upholding the democratic fabric that binds us all together.