In the first episode of Saturday Night Live following the presidential election, the cast took a playful yet pointed approach in addressing President-elect Donald Trump during the show’s cold open. Set on the iconic Studio 8H stage in New York, several cast members humorously appealed to Trump, hinting that they shouldn’t be counted among his “political enemies.”

The skit opened on a more somber note, with cast member Ego Nwodim acknowledging that for many viewers, the election results may feel “shocking, and even horrifying.” Kenan Thompson then referenced Trump’s recent statements about taking “vengeance against his political enemies,” while Nwodim added that there’s now “nothing to protect the people who are brave enough to speak out against him.”

A Sudden Shift in Tone

The tone of the sketch quickly shifted when Thompson broke the tension, quipping, “And that is why we at SNL would like to say to Donald Trump, we… have been with you all along!” The cast continued the gag, insisting they had supported Trump in the lead-up to the election. Bowen Yang joined in, saying, “We have never wavered in our support of you!” Heidi Gardner added to the humor by joking that she “voted for him fifty times” in Pennsylvania.

As Thompson continued, “So if you’re keeping some kind of list of your enemies, then…” Marcello Hernandez finished his line with, “we should not be on that list,” eliciting laughter from the audience.

A Revamped Trump Impersonation

The cold open also introduced SNL viewers to a new version of James Austin Johnson’s Trump impersonation. Known for his political impressions, Johnson appeared on stage as “hot jacked Trump,” sporting a red headband and impressively muscular arms. “They finally got the body right,” he joked while flexing. “From now on, we’re going to do a very flattering portrayal of Trump because he’s frankly my hero.”

The skit continued with SNL alum Dana Carvey making a cameo. Known for his portrayal of Joe Biden, Carvey surprised the audience by appearing as Elon Musk instead, adding another layer of humor to the segment.

Hosted by comedian Bill Burr and featuring Mk.gee as the musical guest, the episode marked a lively start to SNL’s post-election season. The show, known for its sharp political satire, airs on NBC every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. EDT/8:30 p.m. PDT.