‘SNL’ Cold Open: Sarah Sherman as Rachel Maddow on Trump and TikTok
Sarah Sherman opened the first episode of 2025’s “Saturday Night Live” playing political commentator Rachel Maddow. In the sketch, Maddow hosted an MSNBC panel that included Marcello Hernandez as Ari Melber, Ego Nwodim as Joy Reed, Heidi Gardner as Stephanie Ruhle and Andrew Dismukes as Chris Hayes.
The panelist began discussing the upcoming inauguration, the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and the TikTok ban.
“Hello and welcome to MSNBC. I’m Rachel Meadow and Dads. You better hide your older lesbian lesbian daughters, because hey, I’m back on TV tonight for our special coverage of Inauguration weekend,” Sherman says.
Before the panelists could even address the topics of the day. Sherman interrupts them and says, “We have important news. Trump apparently just told reporters he wanted to quote Trade Connecticut.”
She adds, “Sorry, Ari, we’re getting breaking news that Trump just told a group of wildfire victims, ‘Arnold Palmer had some of the longest balls in American history.’ You see, this is what he’s doing to keep us from talking about disaster relief or the effects of climate change.”
James Austin Johnson also appears as President Donald Trump during the skit to talk about the TikTok ban.
“Yes, we love TikTok,” says Johnson. “Don’t we like TikTok? We used to hate it, but honestly, in many ways it got me elected. So now we love it. We love the Riz word too, don’t we? And they’re trying to take the Riz away from us. It’s so sad. They want them the fuck out of you. We’re doing a little Costco guys. Tree. And we’re doing Get Ready with me. That will be fun. And we do the challenges. Think ice bucket. We love ice bucket. Anyway, maybe we should get to work with Marcus Zuckerberg. I like him now. Zuck, he looks better, way cooler in terms of perm and chain. And of course he will be at my inauguration, where there will be too many people inside to fit outside. We are very happy to be inaugurated on Martin Luther King Day. I love sharing the day and we are excited about my latest cabinet choice. It’s someone I know you’ll be very happy to see. George Santos.”
Bowen Yang joined the sketch as the disgraced former U.S. Representative. “I am deeply honored to join Trump’s Cabinet as Secretary of Fact Checking and Ambassador to Sephora,” he said. “I am part of the politician to return to the politician and eventually go to prison. But even though I’m looking forward to Monday, this has been a very difficult month for me. I am so saddened by the passing of Jimmy Carter. He had a great influence on me since he was my father. Excuse me, I’m late for a date with my friend, Luigi Mangione.
Comedian Dave Chappelle presents the first episode of the new year. This is his fourth time hosting the beloved sketch comedy show. Grammy Award-nominated rapper GloRilla makes her ‘SNL’ debut as musical guest.
Check out the sketch below:
