Introduction to the Sketch
In the sketch comedy show’s first episode back since the Signal scandal – which involved top Trump administration officials sharing attack plans in a Signal chat that included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg – the cast spared no time in poking fun at the incident.
The Sketch Unfolds
"FYI – Green light on Yemen raid!" Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, played by "SNL" cast member Andrew Dismukes, sent to a Signal chat shared with several teenage girls. "Tomahawks airborne 15 minutes ago. Who’s ready to glass some Houthi rebels? 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🔥🍆"
The response from the teenage girls was one of confusion and surprise. "Who is this?" One of the teenage girls, played by Sarah Sherman responded.
Teenage Girls’ Reactions
Another teenage girl, played by host and "Anora" star Mikey Madison, responded to Hegseth, "Uhm, do we know you, bro? This is Jenabelle."
"Oh nice, Jenabelle from Defense, right?" Dismukes as Hegseth responded.
A third teenage girl in the chat, played by cast member Ego Nwodim, told the secretary he had the wrong group chat.
Escalation of the Situation
"Lolololol. Imagine if that actually happened?" Dismukes as Hegseth responded. "Hey, while I got everyone. Sending an updated PDF with all the locations for our nuclear submarines."
This addition of sensitive information to the chat further emphasized the absurdity of the situation, highlighting the potential consequences of mishandling classified information.
Vice President JD Vance’s Entrance
Vice President JD Vance, played by Bowen Yang, then joined the chat from Greenland, an island territory controlled by Denmark that Trump says he intends to annex.
"Nobody knows why I’m here. Especially me," Yang as Vance puts into the chat. "But praise Trump, our work here is mysterious and important."
Conclusion
The "SNL" cold open effectively used satire to critique the recent Signal scandal, emphasizing the gravity of sharing sensitive information in inappropriate channels. By incorporating teenage girls into the Signal chat, the sketch underscored the potential for serious breaches of security and protocol. The addition of Vice President JD Vance’s character added another layer of complexity, touching on geopolitical issues and the administration’s intentions.
FAQs
- Q: What was the context of the "SNL" sketch?
A: The sketch was a response to the Signal scandal involving Trump administration officials. - Q: Who were the main characters in the sketch?
A: The main characters included Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, teenage girls played by Sarah Sherman, Mikey Madison, and Ego Nwodim, and Vice President JD Vance played by Bowen Yang. - Q: What was the purpose of the sketch?
A: The purpose was to satirically address the issue of mishandling classified information and to critique the Trump administration’s actions. - Q: Where can the full "SNL" cold open be found?
A: The full sketch can be found on the official "SNL" platforms or through a web search.
