Saturday Night Live Skewers Trump’s Tariff Turmoil With Biblical Satire And Outlandish Antics

Saturday Night Live once again put politics and parody center stage, opening its latest episode with a riotous Easter-themed cold open lampooning Donald Trump’s controversial handling of tariffs — and, in SNL fashion, comparing the former president to the Messiah himself. With economic anxiety at a boil following a volatile week on Wall Street, the show’s sketches cut through the tension with sharp wit, satirical parallels to scripture, and biting commentary on Trump’s economic decisions.

The show began in the temple — or rather, Studio 8H dressed up for a biblical reenactment — with Mikey Day as Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers. “This will not stand. I will rid this place of all its money,” declared Day’s Jesus, only for James Austin Johnson’s Trump to barge in, quipping, “Remind you of anyone? I did a whole country.” With that, SNL set a raucous tone for an episode that seamlessly blended sacred, sacrilegious, and economic satire.

Trump’s tariffs took the brunt of the comedic fire. “You know, many people are even calling me the Messiah – because of the mess I, ah, made out of the economy,” Johnson’s Trump deadpanned, referencing the fallout from sweeping tariffs on China, recent market dives, and a fleeting 90-day pause after much public uproar. SNL skewered the policy chaos with a signature blend of absurdity and pointed social commentary. “The stock market did a Jesus. It died, then on the third day it was risen. Then on the fourth day it died again,” Trump joked, highlighting both biblical parallels and economic whiplash.

The lampooning continued as Johnson’s Trump pitched his “Trump Bible” — now “Made in America” and, as he quipped, subject to his own questionable manufacturing standards and inflated pricing, referencing the potential personal gain involved in his economic moves. The skit poked fun at both the blending of religion and commerce and the real-world confusion over the administration's shifting policies. In another memorable gag, Trump hailed tariffs as a “tariff-ic idea,” botching an economic chart by holding up a Cheesecake Factory menu — a visual that encapsulated both the confusion and spectacle of recent policy debates.

Throughout the episode, the show wove in pop culture nods and real-life economic fears. References to shrunken 401(k)s, jokes about $1,300 bibles, and the threat of a “Great Depression — MAWA, Make America Wealthy Again, or maybe MAGDA, Make America Great Depression Again” underscored public anxiety. Guest stars like Jon Hamm and a musical performance by Lizzo, who wore a “Tariffied” shirt, amplified the cultural resonance of the skits.

With the presidential election looming and trade tensions far from resolved, SNL’s irreverent take offered both catharsis and critique, blending laughter with genuine commentary on the economic disarray and political spectacle. The show’s ability to reflect national anxieties while delivering memorable one-liners ensures that, at least in comedy, Americans can find some relief from the week’s headlines.

As SNL prepares to close its 50th season, this episode stands as a testament to the enduring power of satire in capturing the nation’s pulse. How do you think comedy shapes our understanding of politics and policy? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation.

• Donald Trump
• JAMES Austin Johnson
• Saturday Night Live