SNL Tackles Tariffs with Humor Amid National Anxiety

NEW YORK, NY — Last night’s episode of Saturday Night Live addressed economic anxieties stemming from President Donald Trump’s recent global tariff implementation, which was paused earlier this week. The cast tackled the theme in multiple sketches, aiming to resonate with viewers across various class lines.

The episode opened with a cold open sketch where Mikey Day portrayed Jesus expelling money changers from the temple, a scene that took a comedic turn when James Austin Johnson, playing Trump, entered as a meta-narrator. The unexpected crossover allowed Trump to riff on the dire economic situation, cracking jokes about rising egg prices while drawing absurd parallels between market chaos and biblical narratives.

Another segment, titled “The White Potus,” parodied the acclaimed HBO series The White Lotus. In this sketch, Johnson’s Trump spirals upon discovering the economic downturn caused by his tariffs. Alex Moffat returned as a bumbling Eric Trump, while Chloe Fineman portrayed Melania with a distinct southern accent, alluding to the entitlement of the Trump family amid fiscal crisis.

The satire effectively mirrored the elitist behaviors exhibited in The White Lotus, illustrating how the Trump administration mirrors the wealthy family depicted in the series. “We are so lucky that America will always be a rich and powerful nation,” Fineman’s Melania proclaimed, raising the stakes of their predicament with dark humor.

Perhaps the highlight of the night was the sketch “Weekend Update,” where Egon Nwodim and Jon Hamm acted as anchors reporting on the global trade battle. After summarizing the decline of major stock indices—Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite—Hamm humorously questioned if the audience understood the implications of the market downturn.

Nwodim took the reins to translate economic jargon into relatable terms for everyday Americans, illustrating how essential groceries have become pricier. “Candy bars are up from ‘Sure, baby’ to ‘Put that back,’” she remarked, expressing the financial frustration faced by families nationwide.

The sketches garnered laughter not just from the studio audience, but from viewers who could relate to the economic strain. SNL‘s approach enabled the cast to capture the gravity of the ongoing trade crisis while keeping the tone light and engaging. The night served as a reminder that humor can be a powerful tool in making the real-world impacts of economic policy feel accessible and understood.