Supporters of President Donald Trump ripped into Tom Hanks and “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) over the actor’s depiction of a racist MAGA supporter in Sunday’s 50th anniversary special.
Hanks’ portrayal of “Doug” may have been scripted with comedic intentions, but it didn’t land well for most. Hanks and SNL stirred the pot when he appeared on the show as Doug, the MAGA-hat wearing white man whose first “Black Jeopardy!” appearance on the show many years ago depicted him agreeing with his fellow contestants about all topics except “lives that matter.” During the latest Doug appearance Sunday night, Hanks’ racist character suggested he should create a show called “White Jeopardy!” so Darnell, played by Kenan Thompson, could join him.
Many people, including Trump supporters, took to social media with criticism for Hanks and SNL.
After a landslide election, the left, SNL, and Tom Hanks believe the best idea is to portray Trump supporters as ignorant bigots.
Are they not aware that this is the behavior that cost them the election in the first place? pic.twitter.com/3G5xiSrrnT
— Mad Bull America (@america_mad) February 17, 2025
The character at one point preached that the world would be better if more people attended church.
And many felt that Hanks and SNL were trying to make Trump supporters appear to be unintelligent, racist rednecks.
Specifically, things seemed to fall apart further when Hanks’ character refused to shake Thompson’s hand during the skit. Thompson leaned in and said, “I don’t like that, whoa, whoa, whoa,” when his handshake was denied.
“Tom Hanks went on SNL dressed like a slob mocking millions of Trump supporters – portraying them as dumb, racist, rednecks. Keep it up libs. You’ll never win another election again,” one Twitter user wrote.
“Tom Hanks just came out on SNL in a MAGA hat for a bit where he acted like he didn’t want to shake a black man’s hand. This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter. Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting. SNL is an unfunny show,” another user wrote.
Another social media user chimed in to say, “after a landslide election, the left, SNL, and Tom Hanks believe the best idea is to portray Trump supporters as ignorant bigots. Are they not aware that this is the behavior that cost them the election in the first place?” (RELATED: Trump Makes Hollywood Activist Issa Rae Self-Deport From Kennedy Center Show)
Outkick’s Clay Travis wrote, “for its 50 year anniversary special, SNL had Tom Hanks play a racist Trump supporter afraid to shake a black man’s hand. Fun fact: Trump’s 2024 election win was the LEAST racially divisive American election since 1964.”
The 50th anniversary episode was designed to show the development of “Saturday Night Live” over the years, and drew on the comedy show’s many ups and downs along the way. Hanks played the conservative character in 2016 and his depiction yet again seemed to fall flat, this time seemingly more so.
