In the world of politics, there is never a shortage of material for comedians and satirists. And when it comes to former President Donald Trump, the jokes practically write themselves.[0] This was evident in the recent episode of “Saturday Night Live,” where the show’s Weekend Update segment took aim at some of Trump’s recent statements and legal troubles.
One of the jokes centered around Trump’s use of the term “de-bank.”[0] During a speech, Trump mentioned that he wanted to protect people from being “de-banked” by banks and regulators.[0] The hosts of Weekend Update, Colin Jost and Michael Che, couldn’t help but poke fun at this new term.[0] Jost quipped, “I don’t know what the hell ‘de-bank’ means, but [Trump] might have to take ‘de-ambulance’ to ‘de-doctor.'” The audience erupted in laughter at this clever play on words.[0]
But the jokes didn’t stop there. The segment also touched on Trump’s recent legal troubles, including a defamation case brought against him by writer E. Jean Carroll. The jury in the case ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages. Jost couldn’t resist making a comparison to another high-profile case, saying, “That’s how unlikable he is. For perspective, O.J. Simpson only had to pay $33 million for a double murder.”[0] The audience laughed at this biting commentary on Trump’s reputation.
The sketch also took aim at Trump’s legal team, which has been widely criticized for its performance in court. Jost commented on the team’s lackluster appearance, saying, “Look at this team. This is the bottom of the barrel, folks. This is who said yes. I’m in the lead for president and this is the best I can get. Feels like a red flag, no?”[0] The audience roared with laughter at this observation.
The sketch didn’t just focus on Trump’s legal troubles, though. It also took a swipe at one of his lawyers, Alina Habba, who has been portrayed by actress Chloe Fineman on the show. The sketch depicted Habba as a bumbling and ineffective lawyer, with Trump jokingly calling her “the worst lawyer I’ve ever had.” The audience found this portrayal hilarious, and it was clear that the writers of SNL were not holding back in their criticism of Trump’s legal team.
Overall, the Weekend Update segment of “Saturday Night Live” provided an entertaining and comedic take on some of the recent developments in Trump’s life. The jokes were sharp and clever, and the audience responded with laughter and applause. It’s clear that even though Trump is no longer in office, he continues to be a rich source of material for comedians and satirists. And as long as he remains in the public eye, we can expect to see more jokes and sketches like this in the future.
0. “Saturday Night Live on Donald Trump’s $83million legal loss : Video 2024” Chortle, 28 Jan. 2024, https://www.chortle.co.uk/video/2024/01/28/54883/saturday_night_live_on_donald_trumps_legal_loss
