SNL skews Trump by dubbing him a messiah over tariffs chaos

In early April 2025, the American late-night show Saturday Night Live featured a satirical sketch mocking President Donald Trump's tariff policy. During an Easter-themed cold open, James Austin Johnson portrayed Trump, presenting a comedic comparison between himself and Jesus Christ. This sketch emerged as a continuation of previous criticisms aimed at Trump's approach to economic policy, which has generated significant backlash and confusion among citizens and economists alike. The sketch began with Mikey Day playing Jesus in a recreation of the biblical scene where Jesus expels moneylenders from the temple. Johnson's Trump entered the stage and remarked on his supposed similarity to Jesus, suggesting that many people dubbed him 'the Messiah' due to economic turmoil stemming from his tariffs. The humor highlighted Trump's fluctuating economic strategies, such as his recent announcement of a partial pullback on tariffs after they triggered market declines. Throughout the skit, Johnson's character jokingly lamented the financial struggles of everyday Americans in light of his tariffs, with comments about a 'historic transfer of wealth' favoring the rich over the middle class. With quips about the state of the stock market and the economic burden on consumers, Johnson's Trump successfully resonated with audiences by juxtaposing somber economic realities with absurdist comedy. The SNL episode served as both entertainment and commentary on ongoing political issues in the United States. By parodying Trump and his self-declared messianic status, the sketch criticized not only his economic policies but also his relationship with religion and capitalistic practices. This blend of comedy and social critique reflects the general sentiment of frustration among Americans regarding the nation's fiscal direction, leading to continued relevance for political satire in contemporary media.