Colin Jost took on the role of Pete Hegseth during the inaugural cold open of the 51st season, expressing that “Our military is fabulous!” while also lamenting that “it’s also never been bulkier!”
This reflected his actual encounter with top military brass earlier this week, where the discussion seemed to parallel these sentiments. Jost’s comedic spin stripped away any subtlety, advocating that the military should be comprised of “attractive, ripped, hairless men who are definitely not gay.”
At this point, James Austin Johnson’s portrayal of Trump burst into the scene, claiming he was “Just keeping tabs on SNL” and ensuring that nothing overly harsh was aimed at him.
Trump proceeded to go meta, commenting, “SNL 51 is having a shaky launch: 17 new cast members, and they let the ‘Weekend Update’ host handle the cold open,” referencing the significant changes over the summer.
He also took a shot at Jost, stating, “I figured he’d be partying with his buddies at the Riyadh Comedy Festival,” prompting Jost to concede that he hadn’t received an invitation.
Trump reminded the viewers that if the late-night antics escalated, “My enforcer at the FCC, Brendan Carr, would deal with them.” Mikey Day then made a cautious entrance as Carr, correcting Trump on the mispronunciation of his name.
He wrapped up the segment with, “Just remember: Daddy’s watching.”
Check out the sketch below.
