In a recent cold open of Saturday Night Live, the spotlight was on a humorous showdown between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, beautifully staged as a game of Family Feud. Kenan Thompson took center stage as the charismatic emcee Steve Harvey, leading a hilarious ensemble that included Maya Rudolph channeling Harris, flanked by her “family” members, with Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff, Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz, and Dana Carvey portraying Joe Biden.
As SNL poked fun at Trump’s reluctance to participate in another debate, the comedic sketch captured the essence of ongoing election season antics. James Austin Johnson made a surprise appearance alongside Mikey Day, who played Don Jr., while Bowen Yang took on the role of JD Vance. Notably absent was Melania Trump, resulting in plenty of comedic speculation.
The sketch was filled to the brim with jabs as Trump, grappling with his competitive nature, expressed doubts about Harris’s abilities in the game. “I’m telling you, Steve, she’s going to be very horrible at this game. She’s a low IQ person. The whole world is laughing at her,” he claimed. Harris quickly flipped the script, asserting, “The fact is, Donald Trump likes dictators because anyone can manipulate him simply through flattery,” which Trump vehemently denied—until Harris complimented him on his looks, turning the tide in her favor.
As the game unfolded, Harvey posed the question, “Name something that you keep in your glove compartment.” Harris buzzed in energetically, launching into a narrative that reflected her campaign ethos. “I was raised in a middle-class family. My mother worked hard,” she began, clearly aiming to connect with voters. But when Harvey insisted on a straightforward answer, Harris cheekily responded, “Oh, a glock, Steve, a big old glock,” referencing her ownership of a firearm, which has been a deliberate part of her campaign strategy.
The sketch also captured Biden’s character as consistently befuddled and full of humorous quips. Carvey, portraying the former president, delivered lines that echoed Biden’s public persona, such as, “I’m getting my rest. Number one, I sleep when I can. Number two, I’m going to sleep right now.”
The antics continued as Trump, denied a conventional response, tried to make sense of his usual convoluted logic. “I have never ridden in the front seat of a car, so this question is very unfair,” he protested, leading to a long-winded, nonsensical response that tied together various ramblings, seemingly referencing pop culture and politics while evading the actual question.
Harvey humorously wrapped up Trump’s convoluted reasoning with, “Show me, dementia!” solidifying the comedic absurdity of the sketch.
With election humor in full swing, SNL continues to bring the laughs through its portrayal of political figures, making topical satire an essential part of the American comedy scene. The cold open was yet another example of how the show skillfully blends humor with current events, highlighting the quirks of political personas while keeping audiences entertained.