White House shrugs off 'SNL’s jokes about Trump's feud with late-night hosts in season premiere
WASINGTON, DC: The White House has dismissed the premiere of 'Saturday Night Live’s 51st season, where the show mocked President Donald Trump's weaponisation of FCC.
According to Entertainment Weekly, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said that responding to 'SNL’s sketch would be “a waste of time.”
The latest season of 'SNL' mocked President Donald Trump and FCC Chair Brendan Carr over their feud with late-night TV hosts.
The long-running sketch show aired the premiere of its new season on Saturday, October 4.
What did the White House say about 'SNL's new session?
When asked about the 'Saturday Night Live's premiere, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson shrugged it off.
“Reacting to this would require me to waste my time watching it,” Jackson told the publication. She said the White House does not think 'SNL’s jokes are important enough to respond to.
She added, “And like the millions of Americans who have tuned out from ‘SNL,’ I have more entertaining things to do-like watch paint dry.”
Her comments show that the White House does not plan to pay attention to the show or its jokes about President Trump or FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
'SNL' takes aim at Donald Trump and the FCC
Bad Bunny responded, in Spanish, to all of the MAGA fans who are furious that he’s performing at the Super Bowl during his SNL monologue “Our footprints and contributions in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it” pic.twitter.com/3wiMxZHieW
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) October 5, 2025
'Saturday Night Live' kicked off its 51st season with singer-rapper Bad Bunny as the host.
Bunny opened with his monologue, saying that “everyone” is happy he was chosen for the Super Bowl Halftime performance in 2026, hinting at Donald Trump’s administration.
After his speech, James Austin Johnson opened the first act, playing Donald Trump with his usual bluster and warning the cast not to go too far, a reference to recent issues with late-night hosts. He even mentioned FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
Colin Jost played Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, ranting about the US military, only to be cut off by Johnson’s Trump.
“Late-night TV,” he declared, “I’m just here keeping my eye on SNL. Making sure they don’t do anything too mean about me.” He even showed a hand covered in makeup, pretending it was hurt, and mocked the FCC.
Johnson continued his satire, poking fun at the show’s long run with his usual sarcasm. He said, “Here we are, SNL season 51. Should have called it at 50, right? So sad to see something get so old and confused and still demand your constant attention.”
He warned the cast that if they made any mistakes, they’d have to answer to his “attack dog” at the FCC, Brendan Carr.
Mikey Day, who played Carr, politely tried to correct Trump’s name, but Johnson’s Trump ignored him. The sketch ended with the line, “Remember: Daddy’s watching.”
Why 'SNL' targeted Donald Trump and his administration?
'SNL’s latest episode and its parody of Donald Trump came after the president targeted late-night shows and their hosts.
Tensions flared in July when CBS announced that 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' would end in May 2026. Just days after Colbert criticized CBS’s parent company, Paramount, over a lawsuit settlement involving Trump.
Shortly after, ABC temporarily pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s show off the air. Kimmel had made comments about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He returned a week later after the incident.
