UJ
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In the latest episode of “Saturday Night Live,” cast member James Austin Johnson reprised his role as Donald Trump in the cold open, presenting his take on the president’s recent “Liberation Day” tariff announcement.
During this segment, Johnson portrayed Trump at a podium, mimicking the president’s announcement made in the Rose Garden, humorously declaring that his tariff plan will “make America Great Depression again.”
Last week, Trump proclaimed 10% tariffs on all imports to the U.S., with even steeper tariffs on products from approximately 60 nations or trading blocs experiencing a significant trade deficit with the U.S.
“We’ll be the ones eating the cats and the dogs,” Johnson, as Trump, quipped on “SNL,” alluding to Trump’s remarks about Haitian immigrants made during a presidential debate in September.
Johnson, embodying Trump, added that no nation is “safe” from his tariffs, including the uninhabited McDonald Island, a place he expressed interest in visiting.
“Can you fathom that, a Big Mac in a Hula skirt? Ooh la la,” Johnson, as Trump, remarked while displaying artwork featuring the iconic American fast food chain.
“Get me to God’s country,” he continued, referencing country star Morgan Wallen’s Instagram post from last week, which followed Wallen’s abrupt exit from the “SNL” stage without a nod to the other cast members after his performance as that show’s musical guest.
A source close to the situation previously informed UJ that Wallen walked near the camera during this moment, as he had been using the same route to enter and exit the studio throughout the week of rehearsals.
In the most recent episode, former “SNL” cast member and comedian Mike Myers also made a comeback as Elon Musk during the cold open, donning a cheesehead hat and stating that he had just returned from Wisconsin, where the real Musk was engaged in the state’s Supreme Court election.
Jack Black hosted the show, marking his first appearance as host in 20 years, with musical performances by Elton John and Brandi Carlile.
UJ’s Bryan Mena contributed to this report.
