White House Responds to SNL’s Joke About Trump
The White House has reacted to a remark made on NBC’s Saturday Night Live by comedian Michael Che, who joked about an assassination involving President Donald Trump.
During the Weekend Update segment, Che quipped about Trump attending a performance of ‘Chicago’ at the Kennedy Center: “I think it’s great that the president is going to the theater. I mean, what’s the worst that can happen?” This comment seemed to hint at the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, which, as many might recall, took place at a theater as well.
Interestingly, it’s worth noting that Trump has survived two assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign.
White House Press Secretary Davis Engle criticized the sketch, telling Fox News that Saturday Night Live “hasn’t been good television since President Trump has been the host.”
Trump was the host of SNL back in 2015 and made a self-deprecating joke during the Republican primaries, saying, “People think I’m controversial, but the truth is, I’m a good person. Like Rosie O’Donnell, I don’t hold a grudge against anyone.” This earned laughs, but it paved the way for significantly more negative commentary from the entertainment world towards him.
Engle may have had a point, although many viewers didn’t seem to agree. Some think that Saturday Night Live isn’t as funny as it used to be.
Just last month, the show faced criticism for a skit that many viewers found “disgusting” and “embarrassing.” This particular sketch had references to a racial slur controversy at the recent BAFTAs and featured comedians justifying past behavior by blaming Tourette syndrome.
This sketch included a portrayal of John Davidson, a man whose life inspired the BAFTA-nominated biopic I Swear. Davidson was diagnosed with Tourette’s at a young age and struggled with feeling alienated, even resulting in spontaneous outbursts like shouting the “N-word” at an awards ceremony, which angered those unfamiliar with the condition.
Emma McNally, CEO of Tourette Action, a charitable organization supporting individuals with Tourette syndrome, criticized SNL’s approach, stating, “Let me be clear here: this is unacceptable.” She emphasized that mocking any disability should not be tolerated.
“Mocking disability is never acceptable,” McNally pointed out. “It’s not tolerated in other diseases, and it shouldn’t be tolerated in people with Tourette’s.”
