Saturday Night Live took aim at President Donald Trump’s fixation on prizes and recognition in its latest cold open, turning the stage into a parody awards show called The Trumps. The sketch, which aired January 25, featured James Austin Johnson as Trump hosting a ceremony where he was nominated for nearly every category. Surrounded by gold statues of himself, Trump declared, “It truly is an honor to be here hosting The Trumps after that lady whose name I already forgot gave me her Nobel Prize.”
Trump Takes Every Award
The nominees for “Best Picture” included Trump hugging the American flag at CPAC, his appearance in the Epstein files, and a photo of him staring blankly as a man collapsed in the White House. When Trump won, he shouted, “I love me! I really love me!” — a nod to Sally Field’s famous Oscar speech.
Marcello Hernández appeared as Argentinian president Javier Milei, announcing “nada” as the winner of Best Foreign Film. Trump interrupted, claiming, “I’m taking this award, I’m taking Greenland, and I’m taking Zootopia.” Later, Trump stole the “Best Kiss” trophy from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, awarded for “Trump’s ass,” and thanked his “long-time agent,” the Norse god Loki.
Satire of Power and Pomp
The sketch lampooned Trump’s well-known desire for a Nobel Prize and his flair for spectacle. It also referenced his immigration crackdown, though it avoided direct mention of the fatal shooting in Minneapolis earlier that day. Mike Myers reprised his role as Elon Musk to present a comedy achievement award, while a musical duet between Carrie Underwood and a Village People character listed things Trump had “destroyed” over the past year — including civil rights, constitutional checks and balances, and the White House East Wing.
A Familiar Theme
The cold open underscored Trump’s long-running campaign for recognition, blending satire with surreal humor. The parody awards show highlighted his tendency to insert himself into every spotlight, whether through real ceremonies or imagined ones. By exaggerating Trump’s obsession with trophies and accolades, SNL delivered a sharp critique of his political theatrics while keeping the comedy front and center.
