Saturday Night Live delivered a brutal cold open on December 6 targeting Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The sketch opened with Colin Jost portraying an aggressive Hegseth at a Pentagon press conference, repeatedly falling asleep during moments of high tension.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Colin Jost returned to SNL to play Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in the cold open sketch
- The sketch addressed the controversial Venezuelan boat strikes and alleged war crime allegations
- James Austin Johnson portrayed Trump, who repeatedly fell asleep during the press conference
- Hegseth declared “We’re now at war with Venezuela” while aggressively defending the strikes
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Saturday Night Live opened its December 6 episode with a devastating political satire sketch. Colin Jost portrayed the aggressive and defensive Pete Hegseth at a Pentagon press conference addressing military strikes.
Throughout the sketch, Jost’s Hegseth repeatedly turned to find Trump (played by James Austin Johnson) snoring away in his seat. The sleeping Trump became the running joke of the entire segment, with Hegseth constantly trying to wake him up or shield him from reporters.
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The sketch centered on Hegseth‘s controversial Venezuelan boat strikes. Jost’s Hegseth aggressively declared “We’re now at war with Venezuela” before chugging an energy drink and defending the military operations.
Reporters questioned Hegseth about allegations that he committed war crimes and gave orders to “kill everybody” aboard alleged drug boats. When confronted with tough questions about affordability and potential war crimes, Hegseth insistently claimed that Trump has his back completely. However, every time Hegseth looked over for support, Trump remained sound asleep, creating uncomfortable comedic moments.
Trump’s Dream Sequences Add Satirical Humor
The sketch included moments where sleeping Trump talked in his sleep, uttering one particularly embarrassing line while dreaming: “Stop Mamdani, you can freeze my rent anytime.” This reference mocked recent political tensions surrounding affordability issues.
Ending Scene: Trump Caught Falling Asleep While Standing
By the sketch’s conclusion, Trump even managed to fall asleep while standing up. Hegseth looked over with concern and delivered the punchline: “We’ve got to get him to another MRI.” The line played on ongoing concerns about Trump’s health and stamina.
The entire cold open satirized the chaotic state of the Trump administration’s defense policies while highlighting the tension between Trump and Hegseth over the controversial Venezuelan boat strikes.
Why This SNL Sketch Resonates With Current Events
Saturday Night Live returned from Thanksgiving break to tackle one of the week’s most explosive political stories. The Venezuelan boat strikes remain controversial, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth facing serious scrutiny from Congress members who believe the military action may constitute a war crime.
The sketch effectively captured the tension between Trump’s distancing himself from Hegseth and Hegseth’s desperate attempts to claim presidential support. By having Trump literally asleep throughout the entire ordeal, SNL highlighted how the president remains disconnected from accountability while his defense secretary faces mounting pressure over the strikes.
“Trump has my back 100%,” Jost’s Hegseth insisted from behind a podium, even as the scene repeatedly cut to the sleeping president.
— SNL Cold Open, December 6, 2025
Watch: Pentagon Press Conference Cold Open – SNL
Sources
- USA Today – SNL mocks Hegseth, Trump over Venezuelan boat strikes
- Variety – SNL Trump Dreams of Zohran Mamdani, Slams Pete Hegseth
- Rolling Stone – SNL Cold Open: Trump Caught Snoring Away Questions About Affordability and War Crimes
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.