Saturday Night Live opened its December 6 episode with a hilarious cold open skewering Donald Trump for repeatedly falling asleep during a Pentagon press conference about Pete Hegseth’s war crimes allegations. The sketch perfectly captured the chaos of Trump’s cabinet with the president snoring through tough questions about affordability and defense controversies.
🔥 Quick Facts
- SNL Cold Open aired on the December 6, 2025 episode after a Thanksgiving break
- James Austin Johnson played a dozing Trump, repeatedly falling asleep during the press conference
- Colin Jost returned as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, defending controversial war crime allegations
- The sketch mocks Trump’s recent cabinet meeting naps and his dream of Mamdani, avoiding support for Hegseth
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The cold open kicked off with Colin Jost’s Pete Hegseth holding a combative press conference defending his controversial actions. As reporters fired questions about allegations that Hegseth ordered a fatal second strike on suspected drug-smuggling boats, the camera cut to James Austin Johnson’s Trump character sitting in the audience—completely asleep and audibly snoring.
The SNL writers brilliantly played on real recent events. In the past five days, the real Trump had been photographed appearing to doze off during actual cabinet meetings, making the sketch’s premise instantly relatable and hilarious.
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Jost’s Hegseth insisted that Trump is a truth-teller and has his back, telling reporters, “Unlike you beta cucks, he’s a high-energy alpha who trusts me.” The bit hit harder when the camera cut back to Trump still fast asleep, completely contradicting Hegseth’s claims of presidential confidence and support.
The sketch escalated when Hegseth tried to defend himself against war crime accusations while Trump remained unconscious. As reporters pressed on questions about affordability crisis arguments that Trump’s own voters blamed him for, the sleeping president snored loudly through every question.
Trump Dreams of Mamdani Instead of Supporting Hegseth
| Key Moment | Sketch Details |
| Trump’s Dream | Trump is dreaming about Mamdani, not defending Hegseth |
| Hegseth’s Frustration | Repeatedly looks to Trump for support but finds him asleep instead |
| Ending | Trump falls asleep again while standing, prompting Hegseth to suggest he needs another MRI |
| Classic SNL Touch | The sketch cycles through Trump falling asleep multiple times for maximum comedic impact |
One of the sketch’s standout jokes involved Trump dreaming of Mamdani while completely ignoring Hegseth’s attempts to get his support. This undercut the constant message from Hegseth that Trump trusts him completely and has his back, creating a brilliant comedic contradiction.
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The December 6 cold open showed SNL coming back with sharp political satire after the holiday break. The sketch effectively combined real news elements with exaggerated comedy, taking Trump’s recent cabinet meeting naps and turning them into a perfect setup for ridiculing both the president and his controversial secretary of war.
Critics praised Colin Jost’s performance as particularly brutal and funny, capturing Hegseth’s aggressive defensiveness while James Austin Johnson milked laughs from pure physical comedy as the repeatedly dozing president.
Why This Sketch Hits Different Than Typical Political Comedy?
The comedy works on multiple levels because it mocks both Trump’s apparent health concerns and Hegseth’s inability to get support from the president he serves. Instead of Trump backing up his controversial defense secretary, the president literally checks out of the conversation.
The sketch’s genius lies in showing the absurdity of a cabinet in chaos. Hegseth is left to handle questions about war crimes alone while the president sleeps, and viewers get perfect visual comedy paired with social commentary about the current administration’s credibility.
Watch: Pentagon Press Conference Cold Open – SNL
Sources
- Rolling Stone – SNL Cold Open coverage and sketch details
- Deadline – Trump and Hegseth war crimes sketch analysis
- Variety – Trump’s Mamdani dream and cabinet meeting satire
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.