President Donald Trump and numerous high-ranking officials were raked over the coals in a punishing Saturday Night Live cold open.

Saturday Night Live returned from its winter break and rang in the new year with what’s quickly become a familiar tradition now that Donald Trump is president again: letting James Austin Johnson suit up as Trump and riff on the absurd — and often deeply troubling — actions coming out of the White House since the show last aired.

Saturday Night Live wasted no time diving back into the political deep end.

Saturday Night Live returned for the first time in 2026 this weekend, with Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard hosting and A$AP Rocky as the musical guest. It was the 998th episode of the sketch comedy show, with actor Alexander Skarsgård slated to host the monumental 1000th episode on January 31 alongside musical guest Cardi B.

The first SNL Cold Open for 2026: Jeremy Culhane's VP JD Vance, Ashley Padilla's Kristi Noem, Trump canceling the 2026 midterms, and more.

Colin Jost's Pete Hegseth joined James Austin Johnson's President Trump for a jam-packed cabinet meeting in tonight's "SNL" cold open.

Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegsethwere all mocked during the cold open.

In the first "Saturday Night Live" episode of the year, cast members mocked Trump over his handling of Venezuela and the ICE shootings in Minneapolis.

Saturday Night Live returned with a cold open once again featuring Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson), this time boasting along with Vice President JD Vance and his cabinet members about his latest moves,