Saturday Night Live has come under fire after airing a joke about an assassination on Donald Trump. The long-running sketch show, which began in 1975 and has made stars out of Mean Girls creator Tina Fey, Hollywood actor Eddie Murphy, and Barbie actress Kate McKinnon, amongst others, was back in its usual slot over the weekend, and during the Weekend Update, cast member Michael Che set about fronting the satirical current affairs skit.
Che immediately began to report on the US President’s recent attendance at the opening night of the classic musical Chicago at the Kennedy Centre. He said, “President Trump attended the opening night of Chicago at the Kennedy Centre, and I think that’s cool.
“The president is going to the theatre, mean, what’s the worst that can happen?” Fans immediately reacted to the quip, which was a doubtless reference to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, who was shot by John Wilkes Booth as he sat in a private box during a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre, Washington, in 1865.
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One fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “President in a theatre… it took me a min, but I got it!” as another said: “So, #SNL joking that the President of the United States of America could be assassinated. Sick f***s!” Another simply wrote: “The President theatre joke-” alongside a GIF portraying shock.
A fourth said, “Che jokes about Trump being assassinated. There is no premise or punchline other than he went to a theatre, what’s the worst that can happen?” and a fifth said, “The audience erupted in cheers. Not applause, not laughter, cheers. A sixth added: “Not a fan of the guy at all, but that joke about Trump at a theatre and the audience cheering was not cool!”
The comment also sparked outrage on Facebook, especially as Trump has been subjected to attempts on his life before. In July 2024, during a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump, who at that point was campaigning for his re-election, narrowly escaped death when 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, who was later shot dead by law enforcement officers, opened fire.
He was nearly six minutes into a speech in Butler when he suddenly reached for the side of his face as gunshots rang out. He then crouched and ran for cover before being rushed off the stage surrounded by Secret Service agents. Blood could be seen on his face and ear. In the midst of all the chaos, a microphone picked up what Trump was saying. At one point, he was heard saying, “Let me get my shoes.”
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Press Association)
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Earlier this year, it was reported that an Iranian assassination squad attempted to kill Trump, the US Secretary of War said in March Pete Hegseth told a press conference that US forces killed the head of the unit, telling reporters they had “hunted down and killed” the leader.
After seeing the SNL joke, user wrote: “Considering this President – OUR PRESIDENT – was the victim of multiple assassination attempts, one of which he was actually struck by a f***ing bullet… WTF! This is not okay “
In the late 19th century, Lincoln was the first president of the Republican Party, and he had taken his wife to see the play, and they sat in the presidential box at the theatre. Wilkes Booth, a performer, had taken the chance to slip into the box during the final act of the comedy.
His fellow actor Harry Hawk delivered the line: “Not accustomed to the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old woman; you damned old sockdologizing man-trap!”
It was then that Wiles Booth fired one shot into Lincoln’s head, and Hawk, according to the theatre’s website, later recalled: “Just as I finished these lines and was standing towards the front of the President’s box, the shot was fired. I turned, looked up at the President’s box,’ he added. ‘I saw a man with a long dagger in front of the box!” Following the assassination, Vice President Andrew Johnson was hastily ushered in and served in the White House for a further four years.
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