Pete Hegseth and Kristi Noem Take a Lighthearted Jab at DHS Chief’s Job Exit on SNL
In a familiar format, Saturday Night Live (SNL) returned with Ryan Gosling as host, opting for tradition over risk in its cold open. Tonight’s segment featured a humorous roasting of Pete Hegseth, alongside a jab at Kristi Noem.
Ashley Padilla’s portrayal of Noem made headlines with the line, “I didn’t get fired, I self-deported.” The skit took aim at Noem’s recent Congressional testimony, where she attempted to shift the blame for $220 million spent on airport television ads and her office relationships onto Donald Trump.
Padilla’s performance as Noem was particularly striking, especially against the background of Noem’s controversial tenure at the Department of Homeland Security over the past year. Sharing the spotlight with Colin Jost, who portrayed Hegseth, the skit effectively delivered its critique with humor.
The comedy kicked off with Jost’s Hegseth, depicted as a keg-guzzling figure, making light of the media’s inquiries into the situation in Iran. In a return to political jesting seen in recent SNL cold opens, he described reporters’ analysis by saying, “you’re all playing chess and I’m playing Grand Theft Auto.”
Jost summarized the chaotic dynamics in the Middle East with the line, “What is happening? Okay, I’ll tell you what’s happening. Okay, we don’t know, okay? And that’s the whole point. If we don’t know what we’re doing, then Iran definitely doesn’t know what we’re doing.”
With the ongoing political landscape abundant in material, including Trump’s recent criticisms surrounding the undeclared war with Iran, allegations from the Epstein Files, pivotal primaries in Texas, and the funeral of Jesse Jackson, the show had plenty to parody. The March 5 departure of Noem and her replacement by former MMA fighter and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) could have also filled the satire spotlight.
Marking the 14th episode of SNL’s 51st season, Gosling returned for his fourth time as host. Recently seen during the 2024 Academy Awards performing a version of “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie, he is set for another project, expected to launch on March 20—Project Hail Mary, based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel.
Next week, Harry Styles will return to SNL, taking on the roles of both host and musical guest. This will be the second time the former One Direction singer has fulfilled both roles, with his first occasion being on November 19, 2019. Including his previous musical appearances, this marks Styles’ seventh overall appearance on SNL.
