Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update took on Donald Trump‘s commutation of Republican former congressman and fraudster George Santos‘ seven-plus year prison sentence, his decision to give Argentina a $20 billion financial aid package, and the president’s recent Time magazine cover.
“Yesterday, President Trump finally released what everyone has been asking him to release: George Santos,” co-anchor Colin Jost joked, alluding to files related to Trump’s former pal and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Santos had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft—”which I think is when you push someone in a closet and change clothes with them,” Jost went on.
Jost circled back to Santos, who repeatedly lied about his background and work history, later in the segment.
“In the clinching game of the NLCS, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings, struck out ten batters and hit three home runs,” Jost said, “a feat previously only accomplished by George Santos.”
Jost also addressed the Argentine bailout, which the Trump administration is reportedly working to double to $40 billion.
“Argentine president Javier Milei…met with President Trump at the White House this week, where Trump announced that he’s sending $40 billion to Argentina, because if history is any guide, a lot of Trump officials will end up fleeing to Argentina,” Jost joked, alluding to the post-World War II Nazi exodus to the country.
Co-anchor Michael Che weighed in on Trump’s appearance on the cover of Time magazine, which he wasn’t pleased with and which was mocked by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, among others.
“President Trump criticized Time magazine for using a bad picture of him on the cover, saying ‘They disappeared my hair.’ And I’ve got to agree: that thing do look waxed,” Che joked, zooming in on the 79-year-old’s neck.
Che also made a jab at his colleague while referencing the racist and antisemitic group chat between Young Republicans leaders that was exposed this week.
“There was outrage this week over a leaked group chat between Republican leaders which praised Hitler and referred to Black Americans as ‘watermelon people,’” Che said. “The chat was named: ‘Jost family.’”
