“Donald Trump” Targets Santa, Warner Bros., and Epstein Jabs in Wild ‘SNL’ Cold Open
“Saturday Night Live” kicked off its latest episode with a sharp political cold open that once again put a fake Donald Trump front and center. The sketch featured James Austin Johnson returning to his now-familiar role as the president, this time speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.
The segment touched on several hot topics and used them for quick jokes. One moment focused on the ongoing talks around a possible sale involving Warner Bros. Discovery. Johnson’s Trump questioned why anyone would want to buy the studio at all and mocked its Hollywood tour, complaining about how dull it is. “They’ve got one of the worst studio lot tours in LA,” he said during the bit.
The scene also included Trump’s press secretary, played by Ashley Padilla, who struggled to keep control as Trump rambled. The character made jokes about hiding behind curtains, taking medication before speaking, and openly flirting with his staff. At one point, he turned his attention to a reporter meant to represent CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, firing off insults that echoed real-life moments from Trump’s past.
The sketch then took a darker turn when Trump was asked about military actions. He claimed the U.S. was expanding its targets and introduced what he called newly released footage. That footage turned out to be a fake video of Santa Claus being bombed mid-flight. When a reporter reacted in shock, Trump replied, “Not anymore!”
Another part of the cold open referenced the recent release of photos connected to Jeffrey Epstein. When asked about images that included con**** labeled with Trump’s face, the character flipped positions. He first dismissed the photos as fake, then quickly claimed pride in them. “They’re 100% legit. I love those files. I’m in the files!” he said.
Trump takes some press questions aboard Air Force One pic.twitter.com/LsCbDqTfD2
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) December 14, 2025
The episode was hosted by actor Josh O’Connor, best known for his role on “The Crown.” It marked his first time hosting the show as he promotes his upcoming Netflix film “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.” Lily Allen appeared as the musical guest, returning to the “SNL” stage for the first time since 2007. According to the show, this episode also marked a rare moment where both the host and musical guest came from the U.K.
This was the eighth episode of the current season, which has already featured a long list of high-profile hosts and performers. The cold open once again showed how “SNL” continues to lean into political satire by pushing boundaries and mixing current events with shock humor.
“SNL” knows exactly what it’s doing with sketches like this. Some jokes will land, others won’t, but the goal is clearly to provoke reactions and keep the conversation going. Whether you find it funny or too much likely depends on your taste for political comedy. What did you think of the cold open? Did it cross a line, or was it classic “SNL”? Share your thoughts in the comments.
