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"Saturday Night Live" took a break from the traditional political cold open in its latest episode, but that's not to say James Austin Johnson's President Donald Trump had the week off.
The NBC sketch show kicked off its Oct. 18 episode, hosted by Sabrina Carpenter, on a non-political note with another entry in its viral Domingo series. For those expecting the show to tackle the political news of the week, though, Johnson later appeared as Trump in a sketch where the president hops on a podcast hosted by a group of adolescent boys, played by Carpenter, Chloe Fineman, Jane Wickline and Veronika Slowikowska. Donning a short dark wig and backwards baseball cap, Carpenter looked almost unrecognizable in the sketch.
While on the podcast, Johnson's Trump referenced his decision to commute former U.S. Rep. George Santos' prison sentence for fraud and identity theft.
"You know who I do like is George Santos," he said. "He's weird. He's a liar. I think he's great. We don't know anything about him. He's one of our favorite people. I don't know him at all. I don't know anything about him. He's one of our favorites."
Johnson's Trump also riffed on the No Kings Day protests against his administration taking place the day of the "SNL" episode, declaring, "The people are marching because they're happy he's free. It's a 'Yes King' march. They're saying, 'Yes, King!' "
"SNL" then spoofed Trump's recent musings about whether he will get into heaven. "Do you think I'm getting into heaven?" he asked the podcast cohosts before concluding, "Probably not, right? Epstein!"
Carpenter hosted the third episode of the "SNL" season, for which she also served as musical guest. This marked the "Short n' Sweet" singer's "SNL" hosting debut, though she has previously appeared on the show several times, including when she performed with Paul Simon during the 50th anniversary primetime special in February.
Carpenter took over after "SNL" alum Amy Poehler returned to host the Oct. 11 episode last week. In her cold open, Poehler mocked Attorney General Pam Bondi's recent appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The sketch also reunited Poehler with her former "Weekend Update" co-anchor Tina Fey, who played a gun-toting Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Bondi reacted to the sketch by embracing her depiction. Taking to X, she shared a photo of Poehler and Fey as herself and Noem on the show, asking Noem if they should "recreate this picture." The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, used a clip from the sketch as part of an ICE recruitment video on X.
The "SNL" season premiere, hosted by Bad Bunny, opened with Johnson as Trump declaring that he is keeping an eye on the show, a spoof of the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel's suspension at ABC. Colin Jost played Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in the season premiere cold open, marking a rare sketch appearance for Jost outside of "Weekend Update."
Who's hosting 'SNL' next?
"SNL" will be taking a week off after Carpenter's episode before returning on Nov. 1 with host Miles Teller and musical guest Brandi Carlile. Teller previously hosted in 2022.
The following week, comedian Nikki Glaser will make her "SNL" hosting debut on Nov. 8, alongside musical guest Sombr. Glen Powell, who is hosting for the first time, will take over the Nov. 15 episode with musical guest Olivia Dean.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'SNL' mocks Trump over George Santos prison release, No Kings protests
Reporting by Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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