Saturday Night Live opened its latest episode with a cold open parodying President Donald Trump, focusing on his response to rising prices and travel disruptions during the Thanksgiving period. The sketch, featuring James Austin Johnson as Trump, referenced a moment this week when a man collapsed in the Oval Office during a press conference on weight-loss drug costs.
In the skit, Trump ignores the collapsed man and steps over him, mirroring a viral Getty Images photo from the real event. The sketch then pivoted to the recent off-year elections, where Democrats outperformed Republicans, seen as a rebuke of Trump amid rising prices. Pundits had predicted a White House course correction, but Trump later stated he didn't 'want to hear about the affordability.'
Johnson's Trump quipped about grocery prices 'plummeting straight up' and joked that families would not gather for Thanksgiving because flights were cancelled due to the government shutdown. The administration announced it would not fully fund food and nutrition benefits, and air traffic controllers working without pay led to further travel chaos.
The sketch also included Trump taking credit for the shutdown, blaming Democrats and some Republicans, and threatening to 'steal Christmas' by acting as the Grinch. The episode drew mixed reactions, with some calling it weak and others praising Johnson's portrayal as hilarious.
