SNL Satirizes Trump's Pardons Amid Santos Sentence Commute Bolton Indictment

Saturday Night Live's October 18 episode featured significant satire targeting President Donald Trump, particularly focusing on his commutation of former U.S. Rep. George Santos' prison sentence despite Santos' reputation as a liar. In a sketch, Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, praised Santos while humorously questioning his own chances of getting into heaven, referencing Epstein. The Weekend Update segment, hosted by Colin Jost and Michael Che, mocked Trump's release of Santos, his criticism of a Time magazine cover, and the Justice Department's indictment of former National Security Advisor John Bolton, highlighting a pattern of legal troubles surrounding Trump's allies. The comedy drew on Trump's own statements, including his remark about not expecting to get into heaven and his public rant about the Time cover photo, which he claimed was unflattering. Overall, the episode blended sharp political commentary with humor, using Trump's recent controversies as material while also including lighter moments unrelated to politics.