SNL Cold Open Trump Sketch Goes Viral
Saturday Night Live kicked off its November 8, 2025, episode with a hilarious cold open. The SNL Cold Open Trump sketch recreated a real event that happened just days before. James Austin Johnson returned as President Donald Trump in what became one of the most talked-about sketches of the season.
The SNL Cold Open Trump performance perfectly captured a moment that had everyone talking. On November 6, a man fainted during a real Oval Office press conference about weight loss drugs. Trump’s reaction in real life went viral, and SNL wasted no time turning it into comedy gold.
What Happened in the Real Oval Office
Let me explain what actually happened first. President Trump held a press conference in the Oval Office to discuss lowering prices for GLP-1 medications like Ozempic. During the event, a man suddenly collapsed and fainted.
While everyone else rushed to help the collapsed man, Trump stood to the side, appearing not to react at all. A photograph went viral showing the president at his desk with a blank expression while medical professionals attended to the man on the floor.
The White House later confirmed the man was okay. But the image of Trump’s vacant reaction spread across social media immediately.
How SNL Recreated the Moment
The SNL Cold Open Trump sketch brilliantly recreated this awkward moment. The scene started with Mikey Day playing Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks. He was flanked by Andrew Dismukes as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marcello Hernandez as Dr. Mehmet Oz.
They were discussing medication prices when suddenly, a man in the fake Oval Office collapsed. RFK Jr. shouted “Oh no!” before running away from the scene, which got immediate laughs from the audience.
That’s when James Austin Johnson’s Trump walked into frame.
Trump’s Hilarious Monologue Begins
“Oh, hi. Didn’t see you there. Someone was dying in my office,” Johnson’s Trump said casually. His delivery was perfect.
“I think I’m playing this very normally. Just stand there and stare like a sociopath,” Trump admitted to the camera. The character joked that he “didn’t even pretend like I was going to help”.
In the SNL Cold Open, Trump had him literally stepping over the collapsed man’s legs. Meanwhile, aides were trying to help by lifting the man’s legs up, exactly like in the real incident.
“They got the legs up. That means dead in a cartoon,” Trump observed. He added, “Actually, don’t tell me if he’s dead. I want to be surprised.”
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Weekly Visual Summaries
“Each week, I like to create a big visual that sort of sums up how things are going,” Johnson’s Trump explained. “Last week, it was the demolition of the East Wing. This week, it’s a medical professional almost dying in my Oval Office at the mere thought of charging less for drugs.”
He predicted next week’s disaster: “Maybe next week a bald eagle will fall dead out of the sky and splat right on the White House lawn. And by lawn, of course, I mean big outdoor concrete floor.”
The audience roared with laughter at this extended metaphor.
Talking About Election Losses
The sketch didn’t just focus on the fainting incident. In the SNL Cold Open, Trump also addressed recent political developments.
Trump called the medical event “a great capper to an awesome week—except for the election”. He had to acknowledge that Democrats won big in recent elections.
“The Democrats won. The lamestream media called the elections a rebuke of Trump. Joke’s on them: they’re Stephen Miller’s policies,” Johnson’s character said, deflecting blame.
The sketch specifically mentioned Zohran Mamdani winning the New York City mayoral race. “I can’t believe they elected Mamdani,” Trump complained. He made controversial jokes about being “torn because I like a winner, but I’m not crazy about a Muslim”.
Supreme Court and SNAP Benefits Joke
Then came one of the darkest jokes in the SNL Cold Open Trump sketch.
“But our side had some wins this week, too. Supreme Court said we could stop feeding poor people,” Trump boasted. The reference to SNAP benefits being cut got uncomfortable laughs from the audience.
It was classic SNL—pushing boundaries while making a political point.
Grocery Prices Going “Straight Up”
The sketch tackled inflation next. “And for those of you who can afford food, actually, no, you can’t. I promised grocery prices would plummet, and they did: They plummeted straight up,” Trump said, twisting his failed promise.
“People are saying, ‘Sir, how will I afford my Thanksgiving turkey for my family?’ Well, the good news is your family isn’t coming because all the planes are gone,” he continued. This referenced plans to cut flights during the government shutdown.
“We call that problem solving problem. Killing two birds with another bird. Now you got a bunch of crazy birds,” Trump explained with twisted logic.
The Ozempic Solution
The SNL Cold Open Trump brought the sketch back to its original topic—weight loss drugs.
“That’s kind of our thing. Can’t afford food? Have some cheap Ozempic. Now you’re not hungry and you get to take one weird, painful poop a week,” Trump offered as a “solution.”
This joke combined the medication price announcement with the food affordability crisis in a darkly funny way.
Government Shutdown References
The sketch also touched on the ongoing government shutdown. The sketch noted it’s “the longest in history”, adding another layer of chaos to Trump’s fictional week.
Throughout the monologue, Trump kept checking on the collapsed man. “How’s it going back there? Is he dead?” he asked casually, showing complete detachment from the medical emergency happening in his office.
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The MRI Punch Card
When the man finally recovered and stood up, the SNL Cold Open Trump sketch had one final punchline.
Trump offered him his “MRI punch card,” saying, “One more, and the next one’s free!”
This absurd joke suggested that Trump gets so many MRIs that he has a loyalty card. It was the perfect silly ending to a biting political sketch.
James Austin Johnson’s Performance
Johnson has become SNL’s go-to Trump impersonator. His performance in this SNL Cold Open Trump sketch showed why he’s perfect for the role.
He captures Trump’s vocal patterns, hand gestures, and speaking style. But he also finds the comedy in Trump’s behavior without just doing a simple impression.
Johnson makes the character both recognizable and funny. He exaggerates certain traits while keeping the performance grounded enough to feel real.
Why This SNL Cold Open Trump Sketch Worked
This sketch worked because it was based on a real event that everyone had seen. The viral photograph of Trump standing motionless gave SNL perfect material to work with.
The sketch took that awkward moment and expanded it into a full monologue. It didn’t just recreate the fainting—it used that moment to comment on bigger issues.
Election losses, food prices, government shutdowns, and healthcare costs all got woven into the comedy. The SNL Cold Open Trump became a summary of the week’s political chaos.
Social Media Reaction
After the show aired, the SNL Cold Open Trump sketch exploded on social media. People shared clips on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.
Many viewers said it was one of the best cold opens of the season. The combination of physical comedy (the fainting) and sharp political satire resonated with audiences.
Some people praised how accurately SNL recreated the viral photograph. Others loved the dark jokes about serious political issues.
Comparing Reality and Satire
What made this sketch fascinating was how close it stayed to reality. The real Trump photo showed him looking distant and disconnected. SNL simply had their Trump character acknowledge what everyone was thinking.
By having Trump speak directly to the camera and admit he was “playing this very normal,” the sketch highlighted how abnormal the real situation was.
Sometimes the best satire just points out what’s already absurd about reality.
Other Cast Members Shine
While Johnson carried the sketch, other cast members had great moments too. Andrew Dismukes as RFK Jr. running away from the medical emergency got big laughs.
Mikey Day and Marcello Hernandez played their pharmaceutical executive roles straight, making Trump’s chaos stand out even more.
The cast member who played the fainting man deserves credit, too. His physical comedy timing was perfect.
Political Commentary Through Comedy
SNL has always used comedy to comment on politics. This SNL Cold Open Trump sketch continued that tradition.
By making jokes about food insecurity, election results, and healthcare costs, SNL addressed real concerns facing Americans. But they did it through Trump’s absurd voice, making the commentary easier to digest.
Comedy can say things that straight news coverage sometimes can’t. It can point out hypocrisy, mock powerful people, and make audiences think while they laugh.
How SNL Prepares Cold Opens
Cold opens typically respond to the week’s biggest news stories. The writers work quickly to turn current events into comedy.
For this SNL Cold Open Trump sketch, they had just two days between the real Oval Office incident and the Saturday show. That’s an incredibly fast turnaround for writing, rehearsing, and performing a sketch.
The cast and crew’s ability to create timely, relevant comedy on such a tight schedule is impressive.
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Nikki Glaser’s Episode
This cold open kicked off an episode hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser. She was making her SNL hosting debut after her successful Golden Globes hosting gig.
Musical guest Sombr also performed during the episode. But the SNL Cold Open Trump sketch set a strong tone for the whole show.
Starting with a viral political moment gave the episode immediate relevance and energy.
Where to Watch the Sketch
If you missed the live broadcast, you can watch the SNL Cold Open Trump sketch online. NBC posts sketches on YouTube shortly after the show airs.
The full episode is also available on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service. You can watch it there along with all the other sketches from that night.
Many people prefer watching SNL clips online because they can rewatch their favorite moments and share them easily.
Why Trump Impressions Remain Popular
Trump has been impersonated on SNL for years now. But these sketches remain popular because Trump himself stays in the news constantly.
Every week brings new material. The Oval Office fainting incident was just the latest example of an unusual moment that demanded comedy treatment.
As long as Trump generates headlines, SNL will keep finding new angles for its SNL Cold Open Trump sketches.
The Power of Visual Comedy
This sketch worked partly because of its visual elements. Seeing someone collapse while Trump stands motionless is inherently funny in a dark way.
SNL recreated the exact staging from the real photo. This visual accuracy made the satire hit harder.
Sometimes you don’t need elaborate setups or complicated jokes. Just recreating reality with slight exaggeration can be enough.
Final Thoughts on SNL Cold Open Trump Sketch
The November 8, 2025, SNL Cold Open Trump sketch perfectly captured a bizarre moment in American politics. James Austin Johnson delivered another memorable Trump performance that balanced humor with sharp political commentary.
By taking a viral real-life incident and expanding it into a full sketch, SNL showed why it remains relevant after 51 seasons. The show can still turn current events into comedy that makes people laugh and think.
Whether you love or hate political comedy, this SNL Cold Open Trump sketch demonstrated SNL’s ability to quickly respond to the news cycle. The sketch combined physical comedy, political satire, and absurdist humor into one memorable opening.
If you haven’t seen it yet, the SNL Cold Open Trump sketch is worth watching. It captures a specific moment in time while making broader points about politics, media, and leadership. That’s what great comedy does—it entertains you while making you see things differently.