SNL Cold Open Features Mike Myers as Elon Musk

NEW YORK, NY — “Saturday Night Live” returned to its political roots this week with a cold open that featured a satirical take on the Oval Office, showcasing a fictional meeting between President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and tech mogul Elon Musk.

In the sketch, which aired on March 8, Lady Gaga served as the host. Mike Myers reprised his role as Musk, bringing comedic flair to a scenario that depicted the tension between Musk and the Cabinet members. James Austin Johnson portrayed Trump, and Marcello Hernandez took on the role of Rubio.

The sketch highlighted a supposed conflict regarding Musk’s actions in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Hernandez’s Rubio made a bold statement, saying, “While Elon’s been causing chaos, I’ve been working behind the scenes and I am very close to a deal with the Panamanian government to retake the Panama Canal.” In a characteristically flippant response, Johnson’s Trump responded, “Eh, I don’t want it anymore. You know, it seems like a hassle. What I really love is Thailand.”

The humor continued as the sketch featured Trump’s inner monologue, expressing, “I’m thinking something and not saying it out loud. Whoa. This is a whole new thing. This can save me a lot of trouble. I should do this more often. I won’t, but I should.”

Amidst the comedic exchanges, Myers’ Musk voiced his inner thoughts of self-doubt, reflecting on his public perception and recent financial troubles. “A lot of people seem to really hate me. My Tesla stock is crashing and my personal net worth just dropped by $100 billion,” he lamented in a nod to his character’s infamous catchphrase from the “Austin Powers” franchise.

This episode marks SNL’s 50th season and comes after a star-studded special celebrating the show’s legacy. SNL has been in fine form, capitalizing on political events for material, and this week’s episode was no exception.

The show’s ability to blend political satire with celebrity antics continues to resonate, as evident from the audience’s enthusiastic reaction to Myers’ performance. With Lady Gaga also performing her latest songs during the episode, the combination of comedy and music made for a memorable evening.

CNN’s Jeff Zeleny and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.