Saturday Night Live proved once again that it thrives on timely satire, especially when responding to actions by the Trump administration. The much-loved show kicked off its February 28 episode with a cold open addressing the United States and Israel’s military strikes and combat operations against Iran earlier in the day, which reportedly led to the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Donald Trump, portrayed by James Austin Johnson, opened the sketch by wishing Americans: “Happy World War III to all who celebrate!” He went on to claim that he launched the attack on Iran because he and his Board of Peace decided that: ‘we were bored of peace’
He also joked that he needed help distracting the public from the Epstein files. Trump continued by referencing his past campaign promise: “I know on the campaign trail I promised no new foreign wars,” he said. “But listen: Wars, plural, right? I’m allowed to do one.”In a meta moment, Johnson’s Trump suggested the timing of the attack was influenced by the show itself.“People are asking, ‘Why attack Iran now?’ Well, we had to strike in the early hours of Saturday, which has two advantages militarily: One, it’s after the stock market closes for the weekend, and two, it’s to cause immeasurable fear, rage and chaos in the ‘SNL’ writer’s room,” he said. “Those guys were going crazy. They probably had a big State of the Union address thing they were going to do. Not anymore!”Soon, Colin Jost appeared as a confused Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. “I am scared and I don’t know what I’m doing. When he said we were going to blow up the leader of Iran, I thought he was kidding,” he said.The sketch marked the show’s first new episode following a nearly month-long hiatus and a return to its familiar format of opening with a Trump spoof. The episode was hosted by Heated Rivalry actor Connor Storie, who rose to prominence through the HBO Max series.During the Weekend Update segment, Jost also addressed Trump’s record-length State of the Union address earlier that week.“During the State of the Union address, Trump said our nation is back, ‘bigger, better and stronger than ever before,'” Jost said. “‘Same,’ said the measles.”He also referenced a viral 2011 video of Trump discussing Iran and then-President Barack Obama.“Our president will start a war with Iran because he has absolutely no ability to negotiate,” Trump says while sitting behind his desk at Trump Tower. “He’s weak and he’s ineffective.” “See? Now that’s the Trump I voted for,” quipped Jost.
