"Saturday Night Live" is taking onfirst lady Melania Trump's "big, random" Epstein speech.
The show kicked off its April 11 episode with a sketch covering an eventful week of news, withJames Austin JohnsonplayingPresident Donald Trumpand making a series of phone calls in the Oval Office. One of the calls was with his wife, whothis week held an unusual press eventwhereshe denied having any knowledge of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's abuse.
In the sketch,Melania Trump(Chloe Fineman) said she "decided I should do a big, random speech, completely out of nowhere," about Epstein, only for the president to tell her that this "sounds a little insane." He asked, "Who are you, me?"
"It's not just Epstein," she said. "I thought I could also say, 'I, Melania Trump, in no way helped out the Gilgo Beach serial killer.' That way, no one is suspicious."
Despite Trump pointing out this would only increase suspicion, the first lady suggested in the sketch she should also announce that she "barely partied with Diddy."
Johnson's Trump also calledTiger Woods(Kenan Thompson), telling the golfer, "If only there were something I could have done to help" after Woods'recent DUI, and Defense SecretaryPete Hegseth(Colin Jost). Hegseth assured Trump that Iran is "as obliterated as me every Saturday night, allegedly," adding, "You also probably heard that I want to start a draft again, which is a great sign for the ceasefire."
But Trump told Hegseth he had employed a secret weapon by sending Vice PresidentJD Vancein to help with negotiations. "After those Iranians spent 20 hours talking to JD, they said, 'Please, sir, just go back to bombing us.' "
The sketchalso featured Trump dictatinghis controversial Easter Sunday post about Iran, which ended with "Praise be to Allah." In the cold open, Johnson's Trump called this a "sarcastic attack on the world's largest religion. They famously have a great sense of humor about that kind of stuff."
The sketch was a return to the show's usual format of opening with a Trump-focused sketch. "SNL" took a break from the president last week, kicking the show offwith a cold open depictingNCAA Final Four post-game coverage. Johnson's Trump character wasn't featured, though the sketch still did get political with an appearance by the recently firedformer Attorney General Pam Bondi, played by Ashley Padilla.
Colman Domingomade his hosting debut on the April 11 episode with musical guest Anitta. This is the last new "SNL" episode of April, as the show is scheduled to take a few weeks off before returning in early May.
"SNL" will next be hosted on May 2 byOlivia Rodrigo, who is doing double duty as both host and musical guest. It will be Rodrigo's hosting debut, though she has been the musical guest twice before.
The following week,Matt Damonwill return to host for the third time with musical guestNoah Kahanon May 9.Will Ferrellwill then host the "SNL" season finale on May 16 with musical guestPaul McCartney. "SNL" is set to be off for the summer after that, with Season 52 debuting in the fall.
