The season finale of “Saturday Night Live,” marking its 50th season, featured a playful take on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during its cold opening.
“Everyone loves me here. They can’t say that, right?” Trump, humorously portrayed by James Austen Johnson, paused dramatically.
“All women are hidden. It’s like the land of Melania,” he quipped.
Recently, Trump embarked on his first international trip of his second term, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, following his attendance at Pope Francis’ funeral.
One notable absence from his itinerary was Israel, which SNL pointed out with a joke. “I skipped Israel, just like God did during Passover,” Trump remarked.
The skit also tackled the controversy surrounding Trump possibly accepting a $400 million “Flying Palace” from Qatar, intended to replace an aging Air Force One.
Trump has faced backlash amid concerns that accepting such a gift could be viewed as a form of foreign bribery, especially given Qatar’s historical ties to terrorist organizations like Hamas. Security issues have arisen, too, particularly regarding the implications of flying on a Qatari jumbo jet while Boeing struggles with production delays of next-gen Air Force planes.
“I didn’t make this trip for myself,” Johnson’s Trump insisted in the skit. “I did it for the American people, and in some ways, yes, for my own personal gain, too. I did quite well on this trip.”
He continued, “I got a lot of great stuff. Catalis gave me a $400 million plane. Can you believe it? And people said it was some kind of bribe.”
Emil Wakim’s portrayal of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responded, “Well, not yet,” urging Trump to make a pre-emptive “bribe.”
SNL further poked fun at Boeing’s troubles and the quality of American aircraft. Wakim’s character joked about Saudi Arabia considering purchasing a Boeing plane.
“Your funeral,” Johnson’s Trump replied.
Wakim’s Crown Prince then urged Trump to stay in Saudi Arabia, saying, “Donald, stay, build a palace next to me and stay.”
This prompted Johnson to break the fourth wall, telling the audience that it was “Season 50 Finale, still the worst.”
He expressed faux regret that they hadn’t seen him in a while, adding, “Well, it’s not some fake version of me that makes you smile. The real deal is still everywhere. You can’t escape me, right?
