Tom Hanks’ portrayal of a White Trump supporter on the SNL 50th anniversary special has ignited a firestorm of online backlash. In the skit, Hanks sports a MAGA hat, rural accent, and plays the role of a racist Trump supporter on a parody game show called Black Jeopardy. When asked to shake the Black host’s hand, played by Kenan Thompson, Hanks’ character hesitates—triggering heated responses from viewers.
Conservative voices, like Outkick’s Clay Travis, slammed the sketch, calling it a divisive portrayal of Trump supporters. “Trump’s 2024 win was the least racially divisive election since 1964,” Travis posted on X (formerly Twitter), questioning why SNL would continue pushing such a “tired trope.”
Link Lauren, a former political advisor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., echoed similar frustration, linking the skit to SNL‘s declining ratings. “This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting,” Lauren wrote. “SNL is an unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites.”
This isn’t the first time Hanks has played the same character on SNL—he portrayed the same MAGA-supporting character in 2016, just before Trump’s first election win. The skit has reignited debates about the show’s political leanings and its impact on American comedy.
Conservative influencer Kevin Dalton also weighed in, pointing out that Hanks’ portrayal reinforces the left’s stereotypical view of Trump supporters, implying that SNL is out of touch with the political realities of today.
As SNL continues to push the boundaries of political humor, even former cast members like Jon Lovitz, Kevin Nealon, and Siobhan Fallon Hogan have criticized the show for its increasingly snarky, politically charged tone, leaving viewers questioning whether the iconic show has lost its comedic magic.
