Saturday Night Live delivered a sharp political satire in its latest cold open, targeting President Trump's well-documented fixation with winning prizes and accolades. The sketch, set as a bizarre media awards ceremony called "The Trumps," saw the commander-in-chief hilariously attempting to claim every trophy in sight.
A Surreal Trump-Themed Awards Extravaganza
The opening segment cleverly parodied the real-world awards circuit, where Trump recently presided over the Kennedy Center honors at an institution he renamed after himself. Played by the talented James Austin Johnson, the president opened the show with characteristic bluster, surrounded by gleaming gold Trump statues.
"It truly is an honor to be here hosting The Trumps after that lady whose name I already forgot gave me her Nobel Prize," Johnson's Trump declared to the audience. "I thought I needed more awards. And after what all my little freaks and psychos at ICE have been doing, I need more distractions. Look, everything's gold and shiny."
Medical Concerns and Trophy Grabbing
The sketch didn't shy away from poking fun at the president's physical quirks either. "My doctors say if I clap both my dead purple hands will explode with blood," Johnson added, referencing Trump's frequently bruised hands. "It's probably nothing to worry about."
The first award category set the tone for the entire segment - best picture of Trump himself. The nominees included several memorable images from his presidency:
- The president's unusual photograph hugging the American flag at CPAC last year
- His appearance in the controversial Epstein files
- An image capturing Trump staring blankly ahead as a man collapsed from medical issues in the White House last November
- The spectacle of Trump winning a newly created FIFA peace prize
When Trump inevitably won the award, he delivered a parody of Sally Field's famous 1985 Best Actress speech, declaring to the crowd: "I love me! I really love me!"
International Intrusions and Cabinet Mockery
The sketch expanded its satirical reach beyond domestic politics, featuring Marcello Hernández as Argentinian president Javier Milei. As Milei attempted to present the best foreign film category (winner "nada"), Trump rushed the stage to claim: "I'm taking this award, I'm taking Greenland, and I'm taking Zootopia," referencing both real geopolitical ambitions and fictional Disney realms.
Homeland Security received particular attention, with Trump interrupting DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as she accepted the best kiss award for "Trump's ass." The president once again seized the spotlight, this time thanking his "long-time agent," the Norse god of mischief Loki.
Celebrity Cameos and Musical Finale
The segment concluded with several notable appearances, including Mike Myers reprising his role as Elon Musk to present a comedy achievement award. A musical duet between fictional versions of country star Carrie Underwood and a Village People member provided the finale, honoring everything Trump had allegedly destroyed over the past year.
The satirical list of destruction included:
- The White House East Wing
- DEI initiatives
- Civil rights protections
- Constitutional checks and balances
- Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene
Context and Real-World Parallels
The sketch cleverly referenced Trump's long-running, thus far unsuccessful public campaign for a Nobel Prize. Earlier in the week, leaked messages had connected the president's campaign to take over Greenland directly to his frustration at not receiving the prestigious award.
According to reports, Trump warned he "no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace" after the prize went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who symbolically presented it to Trump during a White House visit earlier this month.
While the sketch made passing mention of controversy surrounding Trump's immigration crackdown, it notably avoided direct reference to that morning's events in Minneapolis, where Border Patrol agents fatally shot U.S. citizen Alex Pretti. This omission followed SNL's decision last week to cut a sketch mocking immigration agents from Minnesota native Tommy Brennan, reportedly due to time constraints.
The cold open successfully blended political satire with absurdist comedy, creating a memorable commentary on presidential priorities and the cult of personality surrounding modern political figures.
