SNL Kicks Off Season 51 With Conservative-Focused Political Satire Amid Trump Criticism

Saturday Night Live (SNL) opened its 51st season with a politically charged cold open featuring James Austin Johnson's impersonation of President Donald Trump warning the cast not to "go too far" with their jokes, highlighting the show's ongoing engagement with political satire. The premiere occurred amid heightened tensions in late-night comedy, following ABC's suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" after Kimmel joked about Trump's response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a move praised by Trump and his allies but criticized as an infringement on free speech by others. Studies show SNL's comedy remains heavily skewed toward targeting conservatives, with 82 percent of jokes on Weekend Update aimed at right-leaning figures during the previous season, and similar trends evident in cold open sketches. Despite this, the show continues to avoid satirizing prominent liberal figures as aggressively, maintaining a partisan tilt that has drawn criticism. Trump's long-standing hostility toward SNL, despite his past appearances as host, continues amid broader scrutiny of late-night shows' political commentary and recent legal and regulatory developments involving Trump and media outlets. The show's political satire reflects ongoing cultural and political conflicts, with its content and reception intertwined with broader debates about censorship, free speech, and media bias in the current political climate.