SNL under fire over Michael Che joke about Trump | TV Shows

Saturday Night Live has sparked controversy following a joke about an assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

The iconic sketch comedy collection, which launched in 1975 and has propelled skills like Mean Girls creator Tina Fey, Hollywood star Eddie Murphy, and Barbie actress Kate McKinnon to fame, returned to its common time slot over the weekend. During the Weekend Update section, solid member Michael Che hosted the satirical news section.

Che opened by discussing the US President’s current go to to the Kennedy Center for the opening night time of the traditional musical Chicago. He remarked, “President Trump attended the opening night of Chicago at the Kennedy Center, and I think that’s cool.

“The president goes to the theatre, imply, what’s the worst that can occur?” It comes after SNL mocked Kristi Noem over her husband Byron’s cross-dressing scandal in a divisive sketch.

Viewers quickly responded to the remark, which appeared to reference the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, who was fatally shot by John Wilkes Booth while seated in a private box during a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre in Washington in 1865.

One viewer posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “President in a theatre… it took me a min, but I obtained it!” while another commented: “So, #SNL joking that the President of the United States of America may very well be assassinated. Sick f—-s!”

Another simply posted: “The President theatre joke-” accompanied by a GIF expressing shock. A fourth commenter wrote, “Che jokes about Trump being assassinated. There is no premise or punchline other than he went to a theatre, what’s the worst that can occur?” while a fifth remarked, “The viewers erupted in cheers. Not applause, not laughter, cheers.

A sixth added: ” A sixth added: “Not a fan of the man at all, but that joke about Trump at a theatre and the viewers cheering was not cool!”

The remark ignited widespread fury on Facebook, particularly given that Trump has previously survived attempts on his life. In July 2024, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump narrowly escaped death when 20-year-old Thomas Crooks opened fire before being shot dead by law enforcement officers.

Trump was nearly six minutes into his speech when he suddenly reached for the side of his face as gunshots rang out. He crouched and sprinted for cover before Secret Service agents rushed him off the stage, with blood visibly streaking his face and ear. Amid the chaos, a microphone captured Trump’s words, including the now-infamous moment he was heard saying, “Let me get my footwear.”

Earlier this year, it was also reported that an Iranian assassination squad had plotted to kill Trump. In March, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed at a press conference that American forces had neutralized the threat, telling reporters they had “hunted down and killed” the unit’s leader.

After viewing the SNL sketch, one user responded: “Considering this President – OUR PRESIDENT – was the sufferer of a number of assassination makes an attempt, one of which he was really struck by a f—— bullet… WTF! This is just not okay.”

In the late 19th century, Lincoln became the first Republican president, and on that fateful evening, he had accompanied his wife to the theater, where they occupied the presidential box. John Wilkes Booth, an actor, had seized the opportunity to enter the box during the play’s final act.

Fellow performer Harry Hawk was delivering his line: “Not accustomed to the manners of good society, eh? Well, I assume I do know enough to flip you inside out, outdated girl; you damned outdated sockdologizing man-trap!”

At that moment, Wilkes Booth discharged a single shot into Lincoln’s head. Hawk, as documented on the theater’s website, later recounted: “Just as I completed these strains and was standing in the direction of the entrance of the President’s box, the shot was fired. I turned, appeared up at the President’s box,’ he added. ‘I noticed a man with a long dagger in entrance of the box!” In the aftermath of the assassination, Vice President Andrew Johnson was swiftly sworn in and continued to occupy the White House for an further 4 years.