SNL cold open features Trump parody addressing tariff reversal and economic fallout
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Politics often makes its way into pop culture—but sometimes, it takes center stage in unexpected ways.
This weekend, the cast of Saturday Night Live kicked off their Easter episode with a sketch that had audiences laughing—and thinking.
The focus? A recent change in tariff policy that’s stirring conversations from Wall Street to Main Street.
What starts as satire might have deeper implications for everyday Americans—especially when it touches on the economy.
From the Temple to the Tariffs: A Cold Open with a Message
The cold open featured James Austin Johnson as former President Donald Trump, drawing parallels between Trump’s recent economic moves and the biblical story of Jesus cleansing the temple.
In the sketch, Jesus (played by Mikey Day) announces, he would "rid this place of all its money." Johnson’s Trump enters and quips, “Remind you of anyone?” adding, “I also got rid of money last week—but instead of one temple, I did whole country, maybe even the globe.”
The sketch references Trump’s real-life decision to pause some tariffs—excluding China—for 90 days. In the SNL version, the move is described as ending the “beautiful” tariffs because they were “working so well that I had to stop them.”
The character goes on to compare the stock market to Jesus: “It died, then on the third day it was risen, and then on the fourth day, it died again—possibly never to return.”
Everyday Impact: What the Sketch Says About Real Finances
While the jokes were flying, the show also touched on more practical concerns. Another segment featured a fictional financial news show for Americans living paycheck to paycheck. Kenan Thompson, portraying an international commodities expert, lamented rising food prices.
“I used to eat Cap’n Crunch cereal before the price went up,” he said. “So today, I buy this: Sergeant Munch. Lower rank, lower price, flavor bad.”
The humor draws attention to inflation, rising costs, and the ripple effect policy decisions can have on consumer goods—even cereal.
Pop Culture Meets Policy Again in "The White Potus"
Tariffs weren’t the only target of the evening. SNL also parodied the hit HBO series The White Lotus in a sketch titled “The White Potus.” It imagined Trump and his allies on vacation, seemingly unaware of an economic downturn unfolding back home.
The characters joke about America’s wealth and reputation, with Melania Trump (played by Chloe Fineman) asking, “Can you imagine how awful it would be if America lost all of its money and no one in the world respected us anymore?”
Scarlett Johansson made a surprise appearance as Ivanka Trump, while Kieran Culkin also popped up during host Jon Hamm’s monologue. The episode leaned into its satirical lens, but the underlying commentary was clear: economic shifts can have wide-reaching consequences.
Also read:
This weekend, the cast of Saturday Night Live kicked off their Easter episode with a sketch that had audiences laughing—and thinking.
The focus? A recent change in tariff policy that’s stirring conversations from Wall Street to Main Street.
What starts as satire might have deeper implications for everyday Americans—especially when it touches on the economy.
From the Temple to the Tariffs: A Cold Open with a Message
The cold open featured James Austin Johnson as former President Donald Trump, drawing parallels between Trump’s recent economic moves and the biblical story of Jesus cleansing the temple.
In the sketch, Jesus (played by Mikey Day) announces, he would "rid this place of all its money." Johnson’s Trump enters and quips, “Remind you of anyone?” adding, “I also got rid of money last week—but instead of one temple, I did whole country, maybe even the globe.”
SNL opened its Easter episode with a sketch parodying Donald Trump’s recent 90-day pause on tariffs. Image source: Saturday Night Live / YouTube
The sketch references Trump’s real-life decision to pause some tariffs—excluding China—for 90 days. In the SNL version, the move is described as ending the “beautiful” tariffs because they were “working so well that I had to stop them.”
The character goes on to compare the stock market to Jesus: “It died, then on the third day it was risen, and then on the fourth day, it died again—possibly never to return.”
Everyday Impact: What the Sketch Says About Real Finances
While the jokes were flying, the show also touched on more practical concerns. Another segment featured a fictional financial news show for Americans living paycheck to paycheck. Kenan Thompson, portraying an international commodities expert, lamented rising food prices.
“I used to eat Cap’n Crunch cereal before the price went up,” he said. “So today, I buy this: Sergeant Munch. Lower rank, lower price, flavor bad.”
The humor draws attention to inflation, rising costs, and the ripple effect policy decisions can have on consumer goods—even cereal.
Pop Culture Meets Policy Again in "The White Potus"
Tariffs weren’t the only target of the evening. SNL also parodied the hit HBO series The White Lotus in a sketch titled “The White Potus.” It imagined Trump and his allies on vacation, seemingly unaware of an economic downturn unfolding back home.
The characters joke about America’s wealth and reputation, with Melania Trump (played by Chloe Fineman) asking, “Can you imagine how awful it would be if America lost all of its money and no one in the world respected us anymore?”
Scarlett Johansson made a surprise appearance as Ivanka Trump, while Kieran Culkin also popped up during host Jon Hamm’s monologue. The episode leaned into its satirical lens, but the underlying commentary was clear: economic shifts can have wide-reaching consequences.
Also read:
- Tariff plan paused—Trump steps back after market chaos shakes investors
- Trump teases the possibility of another political decision–"I'm not done yet."
