SNL's Weekend Update Takes Aim at Trump's Commutation Decision and Santos Scandal

"SNL" Weekend Update Mocks Trump's 'NSFW' Time Magazine Cover, George Santos Release In a recent episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL), the show's "Weekend Update" segment took aim at President Donald Trump's decision to commute the seven-year prison sentence of former Republican congressman and convicted fraudster George Santos. The segment also poked fun at Trump's recent Time magazine cover, which was deemed "NSFW" by co-anchor Colin Jost. According to Jost, Trump finally released what everyone had been asking him to release: George Santos. However, Jost joked that this was likely a reference to files related to Trump's former associate and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Santos had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, which Jost humorously described as "when you push someone in a closet and change clothes with them." The segment also addressed the Argentine bailout, which the Trump administration announced earlier this month. Jost noted that the $20 billion financial aid package was a significant move, but questioned its impact on the country's economy. In a separate segment, Jost made light of Santos' background, saying, "In the clinching game of the NLCS, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings, struck out ten batters and hit three home runs. A feat previously only accomplished by George Santos." This quip highlighted the numerous controversies surrounding Santos, who has been accused of lying about his background and work history. Background on the controversy surrounding Santos' release from prison is necessary to understand the context of Trump's decision. Santos was convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in 2023, and was sentenced to seven years in prison. However, Trump commuted his sentence earlier this month, sparking widespread criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups. Additional perspectives on the issue were provided by Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who tweeted that Trump's decision was "a slap in the face" to the American people. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham defended Trump's move, stating that Santos had served his time and deserved a second chance. The current status of the situation is that Santos has been released from prison, but it remains unclear what he will do next. The White House has not commented on the matter beyond confirming that Trump commuted Santos' sentence. As for the Time magazine cover, which was deemed "NSFW" by Jost, a spokesperson for the publication stated that they were unable to comment on the issue. However, the cover in question features a photo of Trump with the caption "The Most Powerful Man in the World." In conclusion, the SNL segment highlighted the controversy surrounding Trump's decision to commute Santos' sentence and his recent Time magazine cover. While opinions on the matter are divided, one thing is clear: the issue will continue to be a topic of debate in the coming weeks and months. *Reporting by Rollingstone.*