In its latest episode, Saturday Night Live delivered a biting and brilliantly awkward parody with its much-anticipated SNL Trump Easter cold open, launching the show with a sharp sketch that mocked former President Donald Trump’s recent rhetoric and public persona. The SNL cold open last night featured a reimagined Easter message from Trump, portrayed as “The White POTUS,” blending religious themes with political absurdity to comedic and critical effect.
The Trump cold open SNL skit opened with Trump speaking from a lavishly fake Mar-a-Lago backdrop, holding a pastel-colored Bible, and declaring the resurrection of “not just our Lord, but also my poll numbers.” With a wink at the MAGA base and a nudge to his ongoing legal troubles, the cold open hit on topics like indictment fatigue, Easter egg hunts laced with conspiracy theories, and Trump’s self-declared sainthood. At one point, he proclaimed, “I’m the only president who could turn water into Diet Coke.”
The sketch, already going viral online, marks another high point in the show’s political satire legacy. Many viewers drew comparisons between the sketch and the real-life spectacle surrounding Trump’s frequent media appearances. The actor portraying Trump, a fan-favorite cast member, delivered with exaggerated hand gestures, mispronunciations, and improvised ad-libs, staying true to the unpredictable nature of the former president.
Later in the episode, SNL Weekend Update piled on the parody with jokes about “The White POTUS” taking credit for the resurrection and allegedly trying to trademark the phrase “Happy Easter.” Colin Jost quipped, “Only Trump could turn Easter into a campaign rally… and a merchandise drop.”
The sketch didn’t just lampoon Trump—it also subtly critiqued the blurred lines between politics, religion, and performance. The cold open’s bold tone reflects SNL’s continued relevance in cultural commentary and its fearless approach to lampooning public figures, especially during an election cycle.
As we head into another contentious political season, sketches like the SNL Trump Easter cold open are likely to be just the beginning of a renewed focus on the former president. Whether celebrated or criticized, Saturday Night Live proves once again that satire remains a powerful lens through which we process—and poke fun at—our turbulent political reality.
