SNL Skewers Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting, Shane Gillis Controversy Follows

This week’s Saturday Night Live (SNL) cold open dove headfirst into the contentious meeting between former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, delivering a satirical take that painted the interaction as anything but diplomatic. The sketch, infused with familiar political impersonations, aimed to lampoon the perceived power dynamics and underlying tensions present in the real-life encounter.

The cold open began with an ironic narration, setting the stage by declaring the meeting a resounding success, one that purportedly instilled a sense of global security in all who witnessed it. This immediately established the comedic lens through which the sketch would view the event, signaling to the audience that they were in for a pointedly exaggerated portrayal of the meeting’s dynamics.

James Austin Johnson reprised his role as Donald Trump, capturing the former president’s characteristic mannerisms and speech patterns. Bowen Yang took on the persona of JD Vance, the Ohio senator, while Mikey Day played Volodymyr Zelenskyy, attempting to navigate the awkward and potentially fraught situation. Marcello Hernández added a layer of visual comedy as Marco Rubio, depicted as a nearly silent observer gradually sinking into the couch cushions. The sketch took creative license, placing Rubio at the meeting despite his actual absence, using his presence as a commentary on his later remarks suggesting Zelenskyy should apologize.

Yang’s portrayal of JD Vance highlighted a specific moment from the actual meeting: Vance’s interruption of Zelenskyy, seemingly demanding gratitude. The SNL sketch amplified this exchange, with Yang’s Vance launching into a comedic tirade about Zelenskyy’s alleged lack of appreciation. "Have you said thank you once? You haven’t said thank you to us once in the past 15 seconds I’ve been yelling at you," Yang’s Vance quipped, before continuing with demands for flattery. "You didn’t say thank you, you didn’t say anything about us being handsome. Who are my handsome little boys? You didn’t ask us that once." This exaggerated depiction served to satirize the perceived transactional nature of the meeting and the implied expectation of gratitude from Ukraine.

Johnson, as Trump, capped off the cold open with a reference to Andy Cohen’s comparison of the real-life meeting to an episode of "Real Housewives of Potomac," stating, "JD finally got to audition for Real Housewives of Potomac." This line further emphasized the sketch’s portrayal of the meeting as more akin to a reality television spectacle than a serious diplomatic exchange.

The cold open also featured a surprise appearance by Mike Myers, who returned to SNL as a glitching, chainsaw-wielding Elon Musk. Myers, playing Musk, confronted Johnson’s Trump with the question, "Donald, what are you doing in my office?" The sketch then poked fun at Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the recent mass firings at various Musk-owned companies. The script highlighted the real-world implications of Trump’s plans to shrink the federal workforce, noting the tens of thousands of U.S. government employees who have been fired in recent weeks. Myers, as Musk, delivered a darkly humorous line, stating, "They’re saying I’m firing people with no cause. But I do have cause, it’s cause I feel like it." This segment served as a broader critique of unchecked power and the seemingly arbitrary nature of some corporate decisions.

However, the comedic efforts of the cold open were overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the episode’s host, Shane Gillis. Gillis, a stand-up comedian who was famously fired from SNL in 2019 over offensive podcast comments, delivered a monologue that sparked immediate backlash online.

Gillis’s monologue included a joke about enjoying historical documentaries, which he then connected to an off-color "date rape" joke. "If you put that on, they will fall asleep immediately," he said. "That’s a little Cosby tip for you actually. Who needs roofies when we have Ken Burns Presents: The History of the Buffalo on PBS." This reference to Bill Cosby, who was convicted of sexual assault before the conviction was overturned, was met with widespread condemnation.

Social media users were quick to express their outrage, with many criticizing Gillis’s humor as offensive and misogynistic. One user commented on the SNL Instagram account, "Shane is usually pretty funny but he bombed hard here." Another wrote, "Less than not funny. Offensive and misogynistic. Blech." Others expressed disappointment, calling it a "disappointing" follow-up to the Zelenskyy-Trump cold open.

The controversy surrounding Gillis’s monologue raised questions about SNL’s decision to invite him back after his previous firing. Critics argued that the show had effectively rewarded Gillis for his past offensive behavior, while others defended his right to free speech and the potential for growth and learning. The situation ignited a broader debate about accountability, forgiveness, and the role of comedy in addressing sensitive topics.

The episode, therefore, became a focal point for discussions about the boundaries of comedy, the responsibility of comedians, and the potential for redemption after public missteps. While the cold open aimed to provide political satire and comedic commentary on current events, the Shane Gillis controversy ultimately dominated the narrative surrounding this week’s SNL episode, leaving a complex and contentious legacy. The incident served as a stark reminder of the power of comedy to both entertain and offend, and the ongoing challenge of navigating the ever-evolving landscape of social and political discourse.