Saturday Night Live Kicks Off with Quick Sketch of Trump Celebrating War with Iran: “My Board of Peace Was Tired of Peace”

SNL Cold Open Tackles U.S. Strikes on Iran Amidst Trump’s Controversial Leadership

In a bold opening, Saturday Night Live featured a cold open highlighting Donald Trump, portrayed by James Austin Johnson, who claimed to be a peacemaker while ironically celebrating the U.S. military’s recent strikes on Iran. The sketch aired shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched operations that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

With the situation escalating rapidly, the show’s writers adapted their planned sketch to address the unfolding crisis. "People are asking, ‘Why attack Iran now?’” Johnson’s Trump questioned. He added, “Well, we had to strike in the early hours of Saturday, which has two advantages militarily. One, it’s after the stock market closes for the weekend. And two, it’s to cause immeasurable fear, rage and chaos in the SNL writers room. They probably had a big State of the Union address thing they were going to do. Not anymore!”

The opening continued with Trump’s exuberant proclamation, “Happy World War III to all who celebrate.” Johnson then presented a satirical take on Trump’s persona, stating, “It’s me, Donald Trump. FIFA Peace Prize winner and Nobel Peace Prize taker… I launched this attack after me and my Board of Peace decided that we were bored of peace.”

In a pointed critique, Trump remarked, “Iran has been two weeks away from developing a nuclear weapon for like, the last 15 years or something. So we had to act now, and we’re doing war. War. What is it good for? Districting from the Epstein files.”

The military action has divided some factions within the MAGA movement, with figures like former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and commentator Tucker Carlson openly criticizing the decision, especially as Trump campaigns for the 2024 election advocating for an end to foreign wars.

In the sketch, Johnson’s Trump continued, addressing concerned voters: “To all my MAGA voters who are upset and saying, ‘This is not what I voted for.’ Well, you did. Don’t you know who I am? I’m me. I don’t know what I’m going to do next.”

Colin Jost made a guest appearance, reprising his role as the overcompensating Pete Hegseth, humorously expressing, “Don’t let my confident demeanor fool you. I am scared, and I don’t know what I am doing.”

The sketch concluded with Jost’s Hegseth telling viewers, “Bottom line, you should all be thanking us. We took out a horrendous, horrible leader who is oppressing his own people.” As Hegseth wrapped up, Trump chimed in with a warning: “But don’t get any ideas!”

As the show tackled these weighty subjects, the shift in political discourse highlighted the ongoing implications for both domestic and international relations under Trump’s controversial leadership.