'SNL' Cold Open jokingly appeals to Trump in first post-election episode

The cast of “Saturday Night Live” jokingly appealed to President-elect Donald Trump in a cold open sketch in their first episode since the 2024 presidential election.

“On Tuesday, Americans went to the polls and elected Donald Trump to be the next President of the United States,” cast member Bowen Yang said in the opening of the sketch.

“To many people, including many people watching this show right now, the results were shocking and even horrifying,” cast member Ego Nwodim added.

“Donald Trump, who tried to forcibly overturn the results of the last election, was returned to office by an overwhelming majority,” cast member Heidi Gardner continued.

Cast member Kenan Thompson, a longtime figure on the show, then said that the president-elect “openly called for vengeance against his political enemies.” Yang added that “thanks to the Supreme Court, there are no guardrails.”

“Nothing to protect the people who are brave enough to speak out against him,” Nwodim said.

“And that is why we at ‘SNL’ would like to say to Donald Trump, we have been with you all along,” Thompson stated, followed by many of his fellow cast members offering praise to the former president.

Cast member Sarah Sherman also noted the “debut” of a “new impression” of the president-elect who is “hot” and “jacked,” and cast member James Austin Johnson, who often portrays Trump on “SNL,” came out as a version of the former president who has muscular arms.

"They finally got the body right," Johnson, as Trump, said.

“SNL” alum Dana Carvey, who has been appearing on the show as President Biden in recent weeks, also impersonated Elon Musk in the sketch, referencing his jumping on stage at a Trump rally last month.

“Check it out, Dark MAGA,” Carvey, as Musk, said in the sketch.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign and Tesla for comment.