Fans praise new 'SNL' spoof that sees Trump world check into 'The White Lotus'
NBC
- The latest episode of "SNL" saw Trump world meet "The White Lotus."
- James Austin Johnson returned as Trump, parodying Jason Isaac's beleaguered financier from the HBO show.
- The spoof seems to have been a hit with fans, with many calling it the shows funniest skit in some time.
"Saturday Night Live" continued to roast key White House figures in this weekend's episode, which saw President Donald Trump and his inner circle checking in to the "The White Lotus."
Retitled "The White POTUS," James Austin Johnson returned as the US president, parodying Jason Isaac's beleaguered financier from the HBO show.
In the wake of the real president's tariff announcements — which have sparked chaos in global financial markets — Johnson's caricature of Trump is seen numbing his pain with a prescription bottle of chicken nuggets and threatening to shoot Uncle Sam himself (Andrew Dismukes).
As Johnson's Trump fights an existential crisis at the breakfast table (Chloe Fineman), playing his wife Melania but embodying Parker Posey's iconic character from the show, asks: "Can you imagine how awful it would if America lost all its money and no one respected us anymore?"
"You would never let our economy go to pieces, right, hon?" she continues, as Johnson's Trump's phone pings with a news flash about a tariffs-induced recession.
The pre-taped sketch also saw Mikey Day play Trump Jr., Alex Moffat as Eric Trump, and Scarlett Johansson as Ivanka Trump.
NBC
In line with her "White Lotus" counterpart, Johansson's Ivanka is seen seeking spiritual enlightenment, only to change her mind when she's told: "You must ask yourself: 'Am I ready to give up greed and material possessions in order to lead an honest and ethical life?'"
Elsewhere, Beck Bennett returned as a shirtless Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kenan Thompson appeared as Tiger Woods, and the episode's celebrity host Jon Hamm portrayed RFK Jr.
The star-studded lineup also featured a brief appearance from musical guest Lizzo, who played a disgruntled American who realized their savings had tanked.
"Oh, my God, there's $5 million in my bank account," she said. "It was 20 million last week."
The skit seems to have been a hit with fans, with some on social media lauding it as one of the best sketches the show has done in some time.
"'The White Potus' is the most brilliant and well-done satire SNL has done this century," one X user wrote.
"Gonna need at least 10 seasons of this," another said.
"The White Potus is the funniest thing Saturday Night Live has done in years," a third added.
Earlier in the episode, Johnson's Trump was also the focus of an Easter-themed cold open, which began by dramatizing the bible story of Jesus (played by Mikey Day) casting moneylenders out of the temple on his arrival in Jerusalem.
"Remind you of anyone?" Johnson's Trump said, interrupting the sequence. "I also got rid of money last week, but instead of one temple, I did a whole country. Maybe even the globe. The money's gone."
"Hi, it's me, your favorite president, Donald Jesus Trump, comparing myself to the son of God once again," he continued. "Many people are even calling me the Messiah because of the mess I, uh, made out of the economy, all because of my beautiful tariffs."