SNL's Weekend Update Roasts Trump Over Time Magazine Cover and Santos Release

SNL's Weekend Update Mocks Trump's Time Magazine Cover, George Santos Release In a recent episode of Saturday Night Live's (SNL) "Weekend Update," the show's co-anchors, Colin Jost and Michael Che, took aim at President Donald Trump's decision to commute the prison sentence of former Republican congressman George Santos. The segment also poked fun at Trump's recent Time magazine cover. According to the SNL sketch, President Trump had finally released what everyone was asking for: George Santos. However, co-anchor Colin Jost joked that this was likely a reference to files related to Trump's friend and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Santos had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, a crime that Jost described as "when you push someone in a closet and change clothes with them." Jost also addressed the Argentine bailout, which the Trump administration had announced earlier this month. He noted that the $20 billion financial aid package was a significant move, but one that raised questions about the impact on the US economy. In addition to the Santos and Argentina segments, Jost made light of Trump's recent Time magazine cover, which featured a photo of the president with the caption "NSFW" (not safe for work). Jost quipped that this was likely a reference to the fact that the cover was not suitable for family viewing. The SNL sketch also included a humorous take on the recent NLCS game between the Dodgers and the Padres. Co-anchor Michael Che joked that Shohei Ohtani's impressive performance, which included six scoreless innings and three home runs, was only matched by George Santos' record of lying about his background and work history. Background and Context George Santos was a Republican congressman from New York who was convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in 2023. He had pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison. However, President Trump commuted his sentence earlier this month, sparking criticism from Democrats and some Republicans. The Argentine bailout is a significant move by the Trump administration, which has been criticized for its handling of foreign policy. The $20 billion financial aid package is intended to help Argentina stabilize its economy, but it also raises questions about the impact on the US economy and the potential for future bailouts. Additional Perspectives While the SNL sketch was humorous in tone, some critics have argued that it was unfair to mock Trump's decision to commute Santos' sentence. "The president has the authority to grant clemency, and he chose to do so in this case," said a spokesperson for the White House. "We understand that not everyone will agree with his decision, but we believe it is a legitimate exercise of executive power." Others have criticized the SNL sketch for its lack of substance and focus on humor rather than policy analysis. "While comedy can be an effective way to critique politics, it's also important to engage in serious discussion about the issues," said a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee. Current Status and Next Developments The SNL sketch is just one example of the ongoing debate over President Trump's decision to commute George Santos' sentence. The issue is likely to continue to be a topic of discussion in the coming weeks, with some lawmakers calling for further investigation into Santos' activities while in office. In related news, the House Judiciary Committee has announced that it will hold hearings on the commutation of Santos' sentence later this month. The committee has invited experts and witnesses to testify on the issue, and is expected to release a report on its findings in the coming weeks. *Reporting by Rollingstone.*