'SNL' skewers Trump over Jeffrey Epstein emails in cold open
- - 'SNL' skewers Trump over Jeffrey Epstein emails in cold open
Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY November 16, 2025 at 6:16 AM
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"Saturday Night Live" is taking on those Jeffrey Epstein emails.
In the show's latest cold open, James Austin Johnson starred as President Donald Trump defending himself after the House Oversight Committee this week released emails from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump's name appeared in the emails, with Epstein writing that the president "knew about the girls." Trump has denied knowing about Epstein's sex trafficking.
The sketch took place at a White House briefing and began with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (Ashley Padilla) insisting, "There was no news this week, nothing happening with the president, no weird information was revealed!" After reporters grilled her about why Trump's name is mentioned in the Epstein emails, Padilla as Leavitt maintained that the president did nothing wrong.
White House press briefing with Karoline Leavitt and Trump pic.twitter.com/tgVarzhDrl
— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) November 16, 2025
"If anything, his crime was loving too much, and possibly too young," she said.
Johnson as Trump soon took over the briefing to declare he is "hiding almost nothing" about Epstein, "just enough to make it extremely suspicious."
"Jeffrey Epstein, I barely knew the guy, OK? As evidenced by the thousands of pictures of us together, dancing and grinding our teeth at various parties, always leering and pointing at something just off camera — probably a book we're excited to read," he added.
The sketch concluded with Johnson's Trump announcing he had just pardoned a turkey for Thanksgiving, "who, by complete coincidence, is a convicted sex criminal."
Glen Powell during promos for "Saturday Night Live" on Nov. 11, 2025.
Glen Powell hosted the Nov. 15 episode of "SNL," one day after his new action film "The Running Man" hit theaters. It was the "SNL" hosting debut for the actor, who previously made a cameo on the show in 2024 when his "Anyone But You" costar Sydney Sweeney hosted. Olivia Dean served as musical guest for Powell's episode.
For Glen Powell, hosting 'Saturday Night Live' is 'the peak of the mountain'
In his monologue, Powell addressed critics who are "tired of seeing my face" after his busy past few years. "You know who is not tired of seeing my face? Your mom," he quipped.
Last week's "SNL" opened with a sketch in the Oval Office parodying a White House event where a man fainted behind Trump. In the sketch, Johnson as Trump declared that his "very normal" reaction was to "stand there and stare like a sociopath."
In 'SNL' sketch, Trump ignores travel chaos, 'the planes are gone'
Johnson as Trump in the sketch then riffed on a number of other topics, including rising grocery prices and flight cancellations caused by the then-ongoing government shutdown.
Olivia Dean and Glen Powell during promos for "Saturday Night Live" on Nov. 13, 2025.
"I promised grocery prices would plummet, and they did: They plummeted straight up," he said. "People are saying, 'But sir, how will I afford my Thanksgiving turkey for my family?' Well, good news is your family's not coming, because all the planes are gone."
Everything you missed on 'SNL' this weekend as Nikki Glaser hosts, Pete Davidson returns
Prior to Powell, comedian Nikki Glaser hosted the Nov. 8 episode of "SNL" and shocked viewers with a monologue where she joked about dark subjects like sex trafficking and pedophilia.
"SNL" is now six episodes into its 51st season, which premiered in October after several members of the cast departed over the summer hiatus, including Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim.
During Saturday's episode, it was announced that Melissa McCarthy will return to "SNL" to host the Dec. 6 episode, which will feature musical guest Dijon.
Contributing: Bart Jansen, Erin Mansfield, Joey Garrison and Josh Meyer, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'SNL' cold open takes on Epstein emails, Trump defense
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