Saturday Night Live host Martin Short criticized Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the show’s opening monologue this week, saying the two share “sexual tension.”
The barb came during a special Christmas edition of the show, and was accompanied by a musical number.
Trump ally Matt Gaetz was the first to fall victim to the Only Murders in the Building star, who seemed especially animated as he stormed onto the stage and insisted he had to hurry because his “Uber driver” was outside.
“And you know how irritable Matt Gaetz can get,” the returning host explained, mentioning the former congressman to Trump’s failed attorney general — and the spectacular flameout he’s seen since.
It didn’t stop there, though: Short, 74, continued to delve into the cast of Trump characters — on a night when the show itself featured a star-studded cast.
Using the traditional style of set-up and punchline, the former cast member who once led the show in the ’80s tore into the Trump camp, but first thanked “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels for inviting him back on.
“You know, Lorne and I are really good friends,” he said of the decorated producer. ‘We’re a bit like Trump and Elon Musk – without the sexual tension.’
The joke went over well with the folks at 30 Rock, but some onlookers online — perhaps already annoyed by Musk jokes made by Chris Rock last week — weren’t so kind.
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Saturday Night Live host Martin Short criticized Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the show’s opening monologue this week, saying the two share “sexual tension.”
The barb came during a special Christmas edition of the show, where Short compared the couple’s relationship to the one he shares with SNL’s creator Lorne Michaels
“SNL sucks,” one X user wrote afterward. “Their insults against Trump prior to Election Day were an absolutely failed attempt to influence voters. The people have spoken, SNL is irrelevant.”
“Who even watches SNL anymore,” another added. “The last one I saw was with Elon and the last one was in the early 2000s[s]. They haven’t been funny or relevant for decades.”
“Lol, pathetic liberals think they can get Trump sent [E]lon packing like how [Steve) Bannon left the [W]hit [H]He depicted ‘the main reason for that’ in the role of Trump’s then chief of staff, Reince Priebus.
‘Not left-wing BS talk or snl.’
“It would be AWESOME if SNL did a skit where Elon Prez was Elect and Trump was his lackey… he would LOSE his sh*t! another joked, seemingly in agreement, asking others to “repost” [to] make this trending’
“Why isn’t #SNL trending???” someone else asked, with the same result. They went on to say, “Musk is probably censoring it.”
At the same time, memes poking fun at the nature of X-owner’s relationship with the president-elect became widespread – with one reposter also comparing the situation to that surrounding Trump and his then-strategist.
“Saturday Night Live will be a great day with opening monologues featuring Musk/Trump parodies. Kind of like 2016 with Bannon,” the person said, sharing altered images suggesting Trump was Musk’s child or pet.
The joke went down well with the folks at 30 Rock, but online opinion was somewhat divided
The jokes – which also almost made fun of AG Matt Gaetz and Robert F Kennedy – gave way to a satirical performance of the popular holiday song ‘We Need a Little Christmas’, and a surprise appearance from Lorne Michaels (centre) and Jimmy Fallon.
Short and the rest of the cast then introduced the show with the trademark “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”, welcoming others such as Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Tom Hanks, Melissa McCarthy, Emma Strone, Paul Rudd, Kristen Wiig, John Mulaney and Scarlett Johansson
“That is the only good thing that has come from this election,” they further emphasized. ‘Give SNL weeks of material.
“SNL is a sh!t show, they insult everyone,” someone else snapped. “That’s why I stopped watching it when Trump first ran for president.”
Musk and Gaetz, meanwhile, weren’t the only Cabinet picks singled out by Short during his monologue — his fifth as host since leading the show with stalwarts like Chevy Chase and Steve Martin.
The prankster also roasted Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his introduction to a musical “solution” intended to ease current cast members’ concerns about Trump’s impending presidency.
“You need a new prescription,” Short told the American public, calling for “drug-induced amnesia regarding the election.”
“And take it from this crooner: Get those drugs before they get banned by RFK Jr.,” he added, referring to the vaccine skepticism of Trump’s controversial health secretary pick.
That gave way to a satirical performance of the popular holiday song “We Need a Little Christmas,” as well as a surprise appearance from Michaels.
That came when a strutting Short walked backstage during the performance and shared a kiss with fellow five-time host Jimmy Fallon.
At the same time, memes poking fun at the nature of X-owner’s relationship with the president-elect became widespread – with one reposter also comparing the situation to that surrounding Trump and his then-strategist Steve Bannon.
Trump and Musk have thus far remained mum on the episode, in which Short also joked about the Tesla CEO’s recently released Cybertruck
The jokes served as a follow-up to last week’s episode, when host Chris Rock also mocked Trump’s alliance with the South African-born CEO, calling him “the richest African American in the world.”
Fallon – after complaining to Michaels that he ‘never kisses'[es] [him] if not more – rewarded Short with his own ‘five-timers’ club jacket, which the comedian struggled to put on,
Short and the rest of the cast then introduced the show with the trademark “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”, welcoming other guests such as Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey and Tom Hanks.
Previously, Short was a cast member in 1984 and 1985, and first hosted the show in December 1986.
He did this along with longtime collaborators Martin and Chase, neither of whom showed up Saturday night.
The other cameos, meanwhile, came in honor of the sketch comedy series’ 50th season, with other big names including John Mulaney, Paul Rudd, Scarlett Johansson, Melissa McCarthy and Emma Stone.
Trump and Musk have thus far remained mum on the episode, in which Short also joked about the Tesla CEO’s recently released Cybertruck.
‘I own five Cybertrucks. Not for driving, they’re just so beautiful,” he said, causing the audience to laugh.
On last week’s episode, host Rock also joked about Trump’s alliance with the South African-born CEO, sarcastically calling him “the richest African American in the world.”
He also took swipes at Trump himself, including one about the attempts on his life.
“Trump survived an assassination attempt,” Rock said during his monologue. “Win the presidency again by winning the popular vote. Was just named Time’s Man of the Year.
‘You know? It could have happened to a nicer man.”