The latest episode of “Saturday Night Live” caused quite a stir as the cast pulled off a hilarious prank on the audience by showering Donald Trump with fake praise in the show’s first episode following his election.

In the opening sketch, the cast members put on a serious facade as they discussed Trump’s victory and expressed concerns about the future without any guardrails in place. Kenan Thompson added a touch of sarcasm by declaring, “We have never wavered in our support of you, even when others doubted you,” followed by Bowen Yang’s sardonic remark that every person on stage believed in Trump and even voted for him.

The faux-praise continued as Colin Jost jokingly threw his co-host Michael Che under the bus, labeling him as the “lame-stream media.” The cast members playfully suggested they should be spared from Trump’s enemies list, with James Austin Johnson making a grand entrance as “Hot Jacked Trump,” flexing fake muscles and vowing to portray Trump in a flattering light because he’s their hero.

Adding to the comedic twist, Dana Carvey made a surprise appearance as Elon Musk, donning Musk’s signature black attire and accentuating the billionaire’s eccentricities with quirky dance moves and a comical portrayal of running the country like his rockets – cool and fun, but with a hint of danger.

The sketch, filled with laughter and absurdity, marked a departure from the solemn post-election cold open of 2016, where Kate McKinnon delivered a heartfelt rendition of “Hallelujah” as Hillary Clinton. The absence of Maya Rudolph, who has been portraying Kamala Harris in previous episodes, was notable in this comedic turn of events.

The Season 50 premiere of “Saturday Night Live” introduced a new ensemble of guest stars for the 2024 election, with Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff, Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz, and Carvey taking on the role of Joe Biden. Johnson and Bowen Yang have been portraying Donald Trump and JD Vance throughout the season, adding to the dynamic mix of characters and comedic performances on the show.

The episode, filled with playful jabs and satirical portrayals, showcased the cast’s comedic talents and ability to entertain audiences while poking fun at political figures and current events. As “Saturday Night Live” continues to push the boundaries of humor and satire, viewers can expect more unexpected twists and laughs in the episodes to come.