Saturday Night Live’s latest segment hoped to be all about Mother’s Day, until James Austin Johnson’s President Donald Trump interrupted the cold open. Plugging recent developments, the SNL star’s Trump rendition ended up “invading all aspects of your life,” butting in just when cast members were joined by their real-life mothers for a heartwarming bit.
Kenan Thompson, Marcello Hernandez and Bowen Yang were ultimately pushed out of the frame as Johnson’s Trump took centre stage to talk the new ‘Chicago Pope’ as Pope Francis’ successor. Taking a dig at Vice President JD Vance‘s meeting with the former Catholic leader, and how it shortly followed by his sad demise, the POTUS impersonator went on to say, “We have an American Pope, Chicago style…Hope he does what we want… Otherwise, I’ll have to send JD back to do his thing.”
“The last time JD met the Pope, he’s got the mightiest touch, but bad things. He meets the Pope…dead, goes to India…war, joins my campaign… Trump wins. Bad things happen in threes.”
Cecil Strong SNL comeback
After swinging the hilarity bat one too many times, he then welcomed former cast member Cecily Strong, who reprised her role as Jeanine Pirro–Trump-appointed interim US attorney for Washington DC. “Jeanine will be the newest addition to my incredible team in my administration,” he introduced her, while she thanked him for bringing her onboard a group “full of Russian assets, booze hounds and people famous for the little baby animals they’ve killed.”
Longtime SNL star Colin Jost eventually “surprised” the mix with his impersonation of US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, only to be booze spat upon by his “old drinking buddy” Strong’s Pirro with a deliberate not-so impromptu panache more than once. It must have hit a bit too close to home for the real-life defence secy, who’s previously been drowned in allegations of alcohol abuse and misconduct. And so, Johnson’s Trump popped the fitting question: “Hey Pete, you’re not drinking again, are you?”
This past Saturday saw Walton Goggins hosting his first SNL with musical guest Arcade Fire. He, too, paid a sweet tribute to his mom by bringing her onstage. The May 10 Saturday Night Live offering marked the penultimate episode of Season 50.
Watch Trump Mother’s Day Cold Open on SNL: