James Austin Johnson reprised his role as Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, providing a critique of his rivals in the most recent Republican debate. The sketch, which parodied NBC News’ hosting of the debate, featured the five contenders frozen in place as Trump took the stage. With his commanding lead in the polls, Trump has chosen not to participate in the debates, making them essentially a competition to be the Trump alternative.
As Trump entered the stage, he mocked his rivals, saying, “How adorable! They actually think they’ve got a chance. Sad in some ways, but in other ways, funny.” He then boasted about his own accomplishments, stating, “Can you believe it, folks? Ninety-one indictments, four trials, and I am still the best choice.”
The sketch began with a recreation of the debate, complete with NBC News graphics and Lester Holt (played by Kenan Thompson) as the moderator. The first question was directed at Vivek Ramaswamy (played by Ego Nwodim), who used the opportunity to make a snide remark about another candidate’s daughter’s TikTok usage. Nikki Haley (played by Heidi Gardner) responded defensively, leading to a heated exchange.
Trump’s entrance caused his rivals to freeze in place, symbolizing his dominance in the race. He proceeded to mock their poll numbers, ridiculing their low percentages. He also took aim at Ramaswamy, highlighting their similarities but emphasizing the importance of being white to appeal to his base.
The sketch then broke the fourth wall, with Trump addressing the actress playing Ramaswamy and criticizing her portrayal. He moved on to Ron DeSantis (played by John Higgins), joking that even SNL doesn’t believe he has a chance, suggesting they would have cast a more prominent actor for the role.
Next, he targeted Haley, referring to her as “bird brain” and making a derogatory comment about his ability to hear women over 25. He concluded with a dig at her name, stating, “But let’s be honest. We are not going to have a president whose name is Nikki. President Nikki. It just doesn’t sound right, probably because it’s a women’s name.”
Finally, Trump turned his attention to Chris Christie, brushing him off with the remark, “How can we forget Chris Christie? It’s actually pretty easy. You just walk away.” He then explained his absence from the debate, claiming to be busy with his legal battles and humorously comparing it to the TV show “House Hunters.”
Overall, the SNL sketch provided a satirical take on the recent Republican debate, with James Austin Johnson delivering a humorous portrayal of Donald Trump and poking fun at his rivals.
