Saturday Night Live Delivers Scathing Satire of Trump’s Tariff Turmoil and Economic Chaos
Saturday Night Live returned with biting political satire this Easter weekend, centering on former President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the spiraling U.S. economy—a topic that’s sparked both concern and debate across America. With the ever-reliable Jon Hamm hosting his fourth episode and musical guest Lizzo making bold statements, viewers were treated to a blend of comedic comfort food and sharply relevant commentary.
The show opened with a memorable cold sketch: a biblical re-enactment of Jesus cleansing the temple, only for James Austin Johnson's Trump to interrupt with a sermon on the messiah—and the “mess-I-a” he claims out of the U.S. economy. Trump slyly compared his tariff policies to holy acts, quipping, "Because of the mess-I-a made out of the economy." The monologue balanced absurdity with searing critique, especially as Trump boasted that his tariffs “were working so well I had to stop them... now everything is back exactly how it was minus a few trillion dollars.”
The comfort and chemistry Jon Hamm brought were clear as he reminisced about his 14 cameos since his last hosting stint and sparred in good-natured rivalry with Oscar-winner Kieran Culkin. Their banter over award shows and cable drama superiority gave fans a behind-the-scenes vibe with on-stage charisma. As the episode unfolded, Hamm’s range carried sketches from the relatable terror of embarrassing oneself in public to farcical game shows and business news spoofs targeting the everyday American experience—especially the toll of rising prices and economic confusion.
“The White Potus,” a standout parody blending HBO’s “The White Lotus” with D.C. intrigue, served up a buffet of cameos and pop culture jabs. Johnson’s Trump took a self-inflicted economic crisis to the resort, with Chloe Fineman channeling Melania Trump, and surprise appearances from stars like Scarlett Johansson. Hamm impressed as a wild-eyed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The sketch’s visual flair and cast’s commitment cleverly encapsulated both political scandal and jet-setting absurdity.
SNL’s sharpest commentary may have come during the "Check-to-Check Business News Channel." Hamm and Ego Nwodim played news hosts distilling financial crises into conversations that actually made sense to regular Americans—"Sounds like gibberish to me," Nwodim deadpanned about Wall Street stats—before switching to real-world signals like candy bar prices and student loans. Their rendition of En Vogue’s “Never Gonna Get It” as a student loan anthem struck a particular comedic chord.
Bowen Yang’s return as Chinese trade minister Chen Biao on "Weekend Update" took direct aim at the U.S.–China trade war: “145%, cool number, bro," he sneered, highlighting the lopsided endurance between the nations—“the one that's been around thousands of years or the one sending Katy Perry to space?”
Lizzo’s musical performances, donning shirts reading “Tarrified” and “Black Women Were Right,” furthered the episode’s socially conscious throughline, mirroring the topical anxieties echoed in the jokes.
In sum, this episode of SNL proved once again why the show resonates during moments of national turbulence: through sharp, shared laughter, deft character work, and a willingness to lampoon even the thorniest issues. As America braces for further economic uncertainty, comedy like this invites viewers not only to laugh but to question—how will Washington handle the next twist in the tariff saga?
What did you think of SNL’s approach to the week’s political turmoil? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation!
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