“SNL” Skit Roasts MSNBC Anchors, Trump in Inauguration Weekend Parody

NEW YORK — “Saturday Night Live” kicked off 2025 with a biting parody of MSNBC, targeting the network’s coverage of President-elect Donald Trump and its star anchors. The Jan. 18 episode, hosted by comedian Dave Chappelle, featured a sketch that lampooned Rachel Maddow, Joy Reid, Stephanie Ruhle, and Chris Hayes, among others.

Sarah Sherman, portraying Maddow, opened the segment with a warning to viewers: “Dads, you better hide your older, bookish lesbian daughters because yeah, I’m back on TV tonight for our special inauguration weekend coverage.” The sketch introduced a panel of MSNBC regulars, including Marcello Hernandez as Ari Melber, Ego Nwodim as Joy Reid, Heidi Gardner as Stephanie Ruhle, and Andrew Dismukes as Chris Hayes.

The panelists attempted to discuss serious topics like the upcoming inauguration, Los Angeles wildfires, and the TikTok ban, but were repeatedly interrupted by Sherman’s Maddow with mock breaking news. One such interruption involved Trump allegedly proposing to “trade Connecticut for Italy,” while another claimed he told wildfire victims that “Arnold Palmer had some of the longest balls in American history.”

Nwodim’s Reid quipped, “This time around, we’re not gonna get sucked in by every new shiny, crazy statement from Trump. We need to focus on what he does, not what he says.” However, the sketch highlighted the network’s tendency to sensationalize Trump’s remarks, with Maddow cutting in repeatedly to announce absurd headlines.

The most pointed jab came when Reid directed a question to Maddow, only for the camera to linger on Dismukes’ Hayes, prompting him to stammer, “Oh, I’m not Rachel, I’m Chris Hayes.” The moment played on a longstanding internet meme about the hosts’ physical resemblance, drawing loud laughter from the audience.

James Austin Johnson also appeared as Trump, delivering a rambling monologue about TikTok, George Santos, and his inauguration plans. “We’re very excited to be inaugurated on Martin Luther King Day,” Johnson said. “I like sharing the day.” Bowen Yang joined as Santos, humorously accepting a cabinet position as “Secretary of Fact-Checking and Ambassador to Sephora.”

Trump has been a frequent target of “SNL” over the years, despite hosting the show twice, in 2004 and 2015. The sketch also referenced recent controversies, including Vice President Kamala Harris‘ surprise appearance on the show during the 2024 election, which prompted NBC to file an Equal Time notice with the Federal Communications Commission.

The episode marked Chappelle’s fourth time hosting “SNL” and featured Grammy-nominated rapper GloRilla as the musical guest. The sketch concluded with a mix of satire and absurdity, underscoring the show’s ability to blend political commentary with humor.