Trump Takes Aim at Hollywood and Washington in Surprise SNL Appearance

Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, made a surprise appearance on the popular American sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) on December 13, 2025. In a cold open segment, Trump, played by comedian James Austin Johnson, was seen answering press questions on Air Force One, where he expressed his disdain for the Warner Bros. Discovery studio lot tour. The tour, which is a popular attraction for fans of the studio's productions, was described by Trump as "one of the worst" in Los Angeles, with a guide pointing to a tree and claiming it was the same tree from the popular television show Pretty Little Liars. According to eyewitnesses, Trump's character was visibly frustrated with the press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, played by Ashley Padilla, who was trying to intervene and steer the conversation in a different direction. Trump's comments were met with laughter from the audience, but the segment also sparked controversy, with some viewers expressing outrage on social media. The Warner Bros. Discovery studio lot tour has been a staple of the studio's offerings for decades, attracting millions of visitors each year. The tour takes fans through the studio's backlots, where they can see iconic sets and learn about the history of the studio. However, it appears that Trump's comments may have been a reference to the tour's more mundane aspects, such as the guide pointing out a tree that has been featured in a popular television show. In a separate segment of the show, Trump's character was also seen celebrating the inclusion of a joke about Jeffrey Epstein's condoms in the show's cold open. The joke, which was met with laughter from the audience, was seen as a reference to the late financier's notorious sex scandals. However, the segment also sparked controversy, with some viewers expressing outrage on social media. The appearance of Trump on SNL comes at a time of great change for the studio, with Warner Bros. Discovery facing a major sale to a new owner. The sale, which is still pending, has sparked concerns among fans and industry insiders about the future of the studio and its iconic productions. In a statement, a spokesperson for SNL said that the show's writers had been working on the segment for weeks, and that Trump's appearance was a surprise for the cast and crew. "We're always looking for ways to push the envelope and make people laugh," the spokesperson said. "We're glad that our viewers enjoyed the segment, and we're looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the show." The sale of Warner Bros. Discovery is still pending, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for the studio and its iconic productions. However, one thing is clear: the controversy surrounding Trump's appearance on SNL is unlikely to go away anytime soon.