This weekend’s Saturday Night Live took a tongue-in-cheek approach to the idea of a White House transition between President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald J. Trump. The sketch served as a satirical platform to showcase the ever-rotating cast of impersonations for Trump’s new Cabinet picks, with standout appearances by Sarah Sherman as Matt Gaetz and Alec Baldwin returning to play Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Carvey’s Biden Meets Johnson’s Trump
The cold open featured Dana Carvey, reprising his role as President Biden, engaging in a self-proclaimed “respectful conversation” with James Austin Johnson’s Trump. Johnson brought a hilariously subdued energy to the former president, stating, “Instead of being rude and crazy like usual, I’m doing quiet and serene. Which, in many ways, is a lot scarier.”
As the two characters shared their grievances about returning to the White House, the comedy unfolded with Trump lamenting the “stinky and sticky” carpets, comparing them to a Regal Cinemas experience, and Carvey’s Biden reflecting on his turbulent presidency, noting, “Maybe I hate it here, too.”
Reinventing the Cast
The sketch was also a fresh showcase for SNL’s reshuffled portrayals of the Trump administration’s figures, adding another layer of humor to the political satire. Sarah Sherman’s over-the-top Matt Gaetz and Alec Baldwin’s brooding take on RFK Jr. injected new life into the show’s political commentary, proving that SNL continues to thrive on its sharp parodies of Washington’s chaos.
Personal Commentary:
SNL nailed it again with its mix of absurdity and biting humor. The dynamics between Carvey’s bumbling yet affable Biden and Johnson’s eerily calm Trump felt hilariously unsettling, poking fun at political realities with just enough exaggeration to make us laugh—and cringe. It’s clear that SNL’s take on the 2024 landscape is as chaotic and unpredictable as the real thing!
