DISCLAIMER: This article was first published on October 5, 2025
Saturday Night Live returned on Saturday for its 51st season. Its cold open had a construction that’s become familiar on the show: It started with one sketch — this time, a parody of Pete Hegseth (played by Colin Jost) addressing military commanders from the previous week — and interrupted it with Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson).
Austin-as-Trump referenced the recent controversy involving Jimmy Kimmel and joked that he’ll be watching SNL, should they upset him in any way.
Trump Busts In On Hegseth To Warn SNL In Brutal Cold Open: ‘Daddy’s Watching!’https://t.co/X84mONG2Na pic.twitter.com/4CoKPnrA0d
— Tommy moderna-vaX-Topher (@tommyxtopher) October 5, 2025
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“Late-night TV,” the faux-Trump said on the show. “I’m just here keeping my eye on SNL. Making sure they don’t do anything too mean about me… here we are, SNL season 51. Should have called it at 50, right? So sad to see something get so old and confused and still demand your constant attention,”
“Okay, I guess I’ll let them start the show. I see the crew’s all ready to go. By the way, thank you, SNL crew, for your hard work and your votes. You fellas are gonna keep an eye on Marcelo for me, right? Okay, good. Fantastic. Well, here we go. And remember, Daddy’s watching!,” Trump said at the end of the sketch, before breaking into “Live From New York, it’s Saturday night.”
Additionally, the sketch acknowledged the mysterious mark that has appeared on the president’s hand in recent months.
SNL mocking Donald Trump’s rotting hand.
Perfect. 💀#SNL pic.twitter.com/EZrc89ngIc
— CRG (@ChristGrec) October 5, 2025
On Sunday, the White House responded to the sketch.
“Reacting to this would require me to waste my time watching it,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Entertainment Weekly in response to the sketch. “And like the millions of Americans who have tuned out from SNL, I have more entertaining things to do — like watch paint dry.”
Trump has often complained about SNL‘s treatment of him, including during his first term, when Alec Baldwin portrayed him on the show.
“Alec Baldwin portrayal stinks. Media rigging election!,” Trump tweeted during the 2016 campaign.
But there was a time when Trump had a better relationship with the show. He hosted the show twice: once during the run of The Apprentice in 2004, and again in 2015, after he announced his candidacy for president.
Photo courtesy of an X screenshot.
