SNL's Sharp Satire on Trump, Venezuela, and ICE

SNL's Cold Open Tackles Trump's Nobel Peace Prize Ambitions and More

SNL's latest cold open took aim at President Donald Trump's unusual connection to the Nobel Peace Prize. The show also highlighted the U.S. military's actions in Venezuela and the controversial ICE shooting in Minneapolis. The skit featured a mock news conference and cabinet meeting, filled with exaggerated portrayals of Trump and his administration.

Key Highlights

James Austin Johnson as Trump

• Nobel Peace Prize Joke: Trump joked about receiving a Nobel Peace Prize indirectly through Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
• Bragging About Maduro: He bragged about capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is now facing drug trafficking charges in New York.
• Cabinet of Curiosities: Johnson's Trump referred to his cabinet as "a cabinet of curiosities," comparing them to monsters from a twisted mind.

Colin Jost as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

• Military Operation in Venezuela: Jost's character boasted about the military operation in Venezuela.
• Crude Jokes and Future Actions: Made crude jokes about the mission and hinted at future actions against Iran.

Jeremy Culhane as Vice President JD Vance

• Greenland Trip Complaints: Complained about his trip to Greenland, referencing Trump's real-life threats to take over the Danish territory.

Ashley Padilla as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

• Defending ICE Shooting: Defended the ICE shooting in Minneapolis.
• Humorous Recruitment Pitch: Made light of the situation and recruited new ICE agents with a humorous pitch.

Ending

• Canceling Midterms: The skit ended with Johnson's Trump canceling the midterms, transitioning into the show's credits.

SNL Pays Tribute to Bob Weir

In the final moments of the show, SNL paid tribute to Bob Weir, the late founding member of the Grateful Dead. The legendary band made two appearances on SNL in the late 1970s.