Quick Read
- Colin Jost lampooned Trump’s unconventional Halloween candy handout on SNL’s Weekend Update.
- Jost and Michael Che mocked Trump’s White House renovations, including the controversial demolition of the East Wing.
- Jost joked about Trump’s trip to Asia and his rating of meetings, highlighting a disconnect from political norms.
Colin Jost Takes Aim: SNL’s Weekend Update Unpacks Trump’s White House Oddities
On a brisk November evening, the familiar opening credits of Saturday Night Live faded into the Weekend Update desk, where co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che were poised to dissect the week’s headlines with their signature blend of wit and skepticism. This time, their focus landed squarely on former President Donald Trump’s curious approach to Halloween and his controversial renovations at the White House, a subject ripe for Jost’s dry delivery and Che’s playful ribbing.
Halloween at the White House: A Candy Conundrum
It’s a tradition for presidents to welcome trick-or-treaters to the White House each Halloween. Yet, as Jost recounted, Trump’s take on the custom was anything but typical. Instead of placing candy into the bags held out by costumed children—bags designed specifically for the occasion—Trump opted for a baffling move: placing candy directly on a child’s head.
“Just put it in the bag!” Jost exclaimed, his frustration echoing the confusion of viewers and the child alike. “Why is he so weird? Even the kid is like, ‘This is not right.’” The moment, caught on camera, quickly became emblematic of Trump’s tendency to defy social norms in the most unexpected ways. Jost’s commentary cut to the heart of the matter: “It’s kind of an embodiment of his entire presidency—just a violation of norms that no other president or person has ever conceived of.”
The scene, as described by Rolling Stone, was more than just an awkward interaction. It was a snapshot of a leadership style that thrived on unpredictability and spectacle, even in the smallest gestures. Jost’s ability to turn this into a punchline underscored SNL’s enduring knack for finding humor in politics’ most peculiar moments.
Renovations and Controversy: Demolishing Tradition
But Halloween wasn’t the only tradition upended. Michael Che shifted the focus to Trump’s recently announced White House renovations, including the demolition of the East Wing—a structure that had stood for 123 years. Trump’s pride in remodeling a bathroom, juxtaposed with the loss of a historic part of the residence, drew sharp criticism from pundits and the public alike.
“Critics are calling the move ‘tone deaf,’” Che noted. “But I’m happy that the floor looks slippery.” The quip, delivered with a trademark smirk, encapsulated the absurdity of prioritizing aesthetic upgrades over preserving history.
Jost and Che didn’t stop there. They scrutinized the optics of Trump and the First Lady emerging to greet children while Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” blared in the background—“Just the perfect soundtrack to lure kids to a famous mansion,” Jost joked. The choice of music, coupled with the candy mishap, created a tableau of surreal Americana that SNL couldn’t help but lampoon.
Global Encounters: Fast Food Diplomacy and Mathematical Mishaps
Trump’s overseas trip also found its way into Weekend Update’s crosshairs. In South Korea, the former president was treated to a gold crown and beef patties with ketchup, an offering that Jost likened to “a Happy Meal with a toy.” The commentary was more than a joke; it was a subtle nod to the way Trump’s public image often blurred the line between statesman and showman.
Then came Trump’s rating of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping—a “12” out of 10. “I guess Trump just wanted to show China we’re still way worse at math,” Jost quipped, drawing laughter and a knowing sense of exasperation from the audience. In one line, Jost captured the peculiar logic of a leader who measures success on his own terms, regardless of convention.
Comedy as Critique: SNL’s Role in Political Discourse
Weekend Update’s take on Trump’s White House antics wasn’t just comedy—it was cultural commentary. By highlighting moments that might otherwise be dismissed as minor oddities, Jost and Che invited viewers to consider what these actions say about leadership, tradition, and the boundaries of acceptable behavior.
For SNL, such material is more than fodder for jokes. It’s a way to process the strangeness of contemporary politics, to laugh at the absurd while recognizing the deeper implications. The show’s enduring popularity stems from this ability to turn headlines into punchlines that linger long after the credits roll.
Colin Jost: The Voice Behind the Satire
Colin Jost’s approach to political humor is marked by a blend of sharp observation and understated delivery. His commentary rarely feels mean-spirited; instead, it invites reflection through laughter. By focusing on the “violation of norms,” Jost reminds viewers that comedy can be a mirror—showing us not only what’s funny, but what’s strange and unsettling about the world we inhabit.
As the episode wrapped, the audience was left with more than just laughs. Jost’s take on Trump’s White House, from candy mishaps to renovation controversies, offered a lens through which to view the week’s events—a lens that makes the bizarre seem just a little more bearable.
In reviewing Colin Jost’s SNL performance, one finds that satire can serve as both shield and spotlight. Jost’s humor doesn’t just entertain; it probes, revealing the ways in which political norms are bent, broken, or sometimes simply ignored. By mocking the oddities of Trump’s White House, SNL helps audiences confront the surreal with a sense of shared amusement, reminding us that sometimes, the best way to understand power is to laugh at its strangest moments.