In a recent segment of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che took aim at the Trump administration, specifically targeting the Signal scandal involving leaked military plans. The scandal involved Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth mistakenly sharing sensitive military attack plans in a group chat with other top administration officials and journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. The leaked information included detailed U.S. military plans for airstrikes targeting Iran-backed rebels in Yemen, which was reported on by Goldberg in The Atlantic.
Jost and Che did not hold back in their criticism of the administration, mocking the texting skills of the national security team and highlighting the blunders made in the Signal chat. They poked fun at Hegseth’s mistake in adding the editor of The Atlantic to the chat, comparing it to a disastrous mix-up. Jost also mocked Waltz for sending emojis in the chat and for his attempt to explain how the journalist’s number got added to his phone. The hosts also targeted other members of the administration, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Vice President JD Vance.
The segment also touched on other political and social commentary, such as the oil industry’s opinions on Trump’s policies, a bizarre incident with a toddler slipping through the fence at the White House, and the removal of a portrait of Trump from the Colorado state capitol. Jost also delivered a scathing take on the recent Paddington Bear statue theft in England, launching into a satirical segment questioning the character of Paddington.
The segment received high praise from viewers, with retired journalist Maggie McNett Harper calling it one of the best ever episodes of Weekend Update. The sharp satirical commentary and witty jabs at members of the administration were well-received by the audience. The next episode of Saturday Night Live is set to air on April 5, 2025, with Jack Black as host and musical guests Elton John and Brandi Carlile. Fans can expect more sharp-witted humor and political commentary from Jost, Che, and the rest of the SNL cast.
