Elon Musk and Donald Trump: The SNL Take on Power and Influence
The latest episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) delivered a biting yet hilarious critique of the unlikely yet profound influence of tech mogul Elon Musk in the chaotic world of President Donald Trump’s second-term administration. The show, nearing the end of its season after a star-studded 50th-anniversary celebration, leaned into its signature cynical humor to reflect the turmoil and absurdity often associated with Trump’s White House. With James Austin Johnson reprising his role as a free-wheeling Trump and Mike Myers returning as a wisecracking Elon Musk, the show took aim at the peculiar dynamics between two of the most polarizing figures in modern American culture.
The cold open set the tone, placing Johnson’s Trump and Myers’ Musk in the Oval Office alongside Marcello Hernández as Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The scene revolved around a reported clash between Rubio and Musk, allegedly sparked by Musk’s controversial firing of employees without considering the broader impact on his agency. Trump, ever the self-proclaimed dealmaker, tried to mediate the conflict, imploring Rubio to mend fences with Musk. “I need you to be my good ‘Little Marco,’” Trump said, resurrecting the nickname he famously used during their 2016 Republican primary battle. Rubio, played by Hernández, seemed less than thrilled, responding dryly, “If you think I’m just going to stand here and let you call me that, you’re right.”
The episode didn’t shy away from real-world events, weaving in recent aviation disasters—a passenger jet and military helicopter collision that killed 67 people and the crash of an air ambulance jet that claimed six lives—into its satire. Trump, ever the opportunist, suggested that Musk, with his record of explosive mishaps at SpaceX, was the aviation expert the nation needed. “He runs SpaceX, which is doing incredible things in terms of explosions,” Trump quipped, referencing the recent failure of a SpaceX rocket. The line struck a chord, blending Trump’s penchant for hyperbole with Musk’s very public struggles in the space industry.
Rubio, ever the dutiful secretary, attempted to highlight a major diplomatic victory—securing U.S. control of the Panama Canal, a longtime Trump obsession. But the president, ever distractible, waved it off. “I don’t want it anymore,” Trump declared, his attention fixed on Thailand, a country he seemed to have developed a sudden fascination with after watching The White Lotus. The moment was classic Trump, a surreal mix of geopolitical ambition and pop culture trivia.
As the sketch progressed, Musk took center stage, delivering a monologue that laid bare his insecurities and ambition. “People really hate me,” he muttered, before striking a Dr. Evil pose, complete with a pinky finger to the corner of his mouth—a nod to Myers’ iconic role in the Austin Powers franchise. Musk lamented the cost of his allegiance to Trump, noting that his personal net worth had dropped by $100 billion. Trump, ever the loyalist, reassured him, “America is doing bad guy now.” The exchange captured the essence of their relationship: a union of convenience, with Musk’s wealth and influence offsetting Trump’s platform and reach.
The episode also nodded to the financial ties between the two men, with Musk reminding Trump, “But I paid you $300 million dollars,” a reference to the over $250 million Musk reportedly spent supporting Trump’s presidential campaign. The line underscored the transactional nature of their partnership, with Trump yielding to Musk’s authority in a moment of clarity: “And that’s why you’re the boss.”
The episode wrapped with Lady Gaga pulling double duty as host and musical guest, a reminder of SNL’s enduring ability to blend politics and pop culture into a seamless cultural commentary. As the show airs on NBC, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, the same parent company as NBC News, it’s a testament to SNL’s role as both entertainer and watchdog, reflecting and shaping the national conversation in ways both profound and profoundly funny.
In the end, the episode served as a sharp reminder of the chaotic interplay between politics and celebrity, with Trump and Musk embodying the dual forces of disruption and self-interest. As SNL heads into the final stretch of its season, it’s clear that the show remains a vital mirror of the times, reflecting the absurdities of modern life with humor, humanity, and a healthy dose of skepticism.
