Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update segment delivered a sharp satirical roast of several high-profile political figures this past weekend. The sketch opened with a jab at Donald Trump’s ongoing White House ballroom construction project.
Co-anchor Michael Che brought up the controversial details of former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s divorce, according to Rolling Stone. He noted that Noem had been married to Bryon Noem for more than thirty years before splitting from him. Che made a joke about how the couple’s relationship ended and referenced reports about Bryon Noem’s crossdressing.
He added that viewers would never truly know why the divorce occurred. Colin Jost then joined in with a follow-up joke about Noem’s divorce. Jost joked that Noem was sad about the divorce but was always happy to separate another family.
The sketch also took aim at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his new military policies. Jost referenced Hegseth’s stated military standards and joked that they would ban the entire career of Mike Myers. Hegseth has repeatedly pushed stricter grooming and fitness standards across the military.
The segment also mocked Trump-endorsed Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton.
Che pointed out that Paxton had taken more than two hundred seventy-five trips outside of Texas while serving as attorney general. That figure came from an Associated Press review of state and campaign records. The AP reported that travel expenses for Paxton’s security detail cost taxpayers at least $1.9 million.
The Weekend Update team used humor to highlight various controversies in recent political news. Each joke was tied to a real event or recent report. The satire served as both entertainment and commentary on current political behavior. The sketch was part of Saturday Night Live’s regular programming and often includes sharp political commentary. The show’s writers and performers have a long history of using humor to critique public figures.
This latest segment continued that tradition with strong material targeting several political figures. The jokes were delivered in the show’s signature style with a mix of satire and absurdity.