During the 50th anniversary special of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), actor Tom Hanks reprised his role as Doug, a Trump-supporting contestant on the recurring sketch “Black Jeopardy!”. In the skit, Doug, donning a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hat, hesitates to shake hands with the black game show host, Darnell Hayes, portrayed by Kenan Thompson. This portrayal has ignited significant backlash, particularly from conservative commentators, who argue that the sketch perpetuates negative stereotypes about Trump supporters.
Critics took to social media to express their disapproval. Link Lauren, a former senior adviser on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign, commented:
“Tom Hanks just came out on SNL in a MAGA hat for a bit where he acted like he didn’t want to shake a black man’s hand. This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter. Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting.”
Similarly, conservative commentator Benny Johnson criticized the portrayal, suggesting it contributes to SNL’s declining viewership. The sketch has sparked a broader debate about the role of political satire in media and its impact on public perception.
The anniversary special featured various sketches and performances, including a monologue by Steve Martin and musical acts by Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter. While the event aimed to celebrate SNL’s legacy, the “Black Jeopardy!” sketch with Hanks has become a focal point of controversy, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding political humor and representation in entertainment.
For its 50 year anniversary special, SNL had Tom Hanks play a racist Trump supporter afraid to shake a black man’s hand. Fun fact: Trump’s 2024 election win was the LEAST racially divisive American election since 1964. pic.twitter.com/0gdocaaktH
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 17, 2025