“Saturday Night Live Skewers Hegseth, Trump Cabinet Over Protest Remarks”
“Saturday Night Live” marked its return from the holiday break with a biting cold open that targeted Donald Trump’s Cabinet. The January 2023 episode featured notable figures such as Kristi Noem, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and JD Vance.
Skewering Trump’s Cabinet
The sketch show introduced Ashley Padilla as the new cast member playing Noem. Her portrayal critiqued the performance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis. She humorously posed questions for ICE’s recruitment, asking potential candidates if they had certain physical characteristics or behaviors. This included statements like, “If the answer is yes, then grab a gun, any gun, and saddle up, big boy.”
Jeremy Culhane made his debut as JD Vance. His character attempted to contribute to the tough rhetoric of the Trump administration, claiming he was there to “kick bubblegum and chew ass.”
Colin Jost as Hegseth
Colin Jost reprised his role as Pete Hegseth on the Weekend Update segment. He took the opportunity to make fun of Hegseth’s viral workout videos, humorously imitating the defense secretary’s kettlebell routine. Jost lifted a kettlebell awkwardly, prompting James Austin Johnson, playing Trump, to remark, “Even I know you’re doing that wrong.”
After the workout parody, Hegseth boasted about the U.S. military’s actions in Venezuela, forecasting future attacks on Iran. His absurd comments included, “We dunked on Venezuela. Next, we’re gonna sack-tap Iran.” He ended with a mock warning to the Ayatollah, saying, “You don’t dare kill your protesters! That’s our thing!”
Conclusion
The sketch effectively lampooned key members of Trump’s Cabinet, highlighting their controversial comments and actions. “Saturday Night Live” continues to use humor to provide social commentary on political figures and their policies. For more content like this, visit Filmogaz.com.