Saturday Night Live lampoons Defense Secretary and health official in USS Abraham Lincoln cold open
The October 10 episode of Saturday Night Live featured a cold open set on the USS Abraham Lincoln, parodying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with exaggerated statements about military actions and food recalls.
Saturday Night Live aired a cold open on Oct. 10 that was staged aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as it returned to San Diego after a more than 10-month deployment. In the sketch, Colin Jost reprised a satirical version of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, telling sailors that the president had asked Iran to "blow up" San Diego and teasing a plan to livestream a public execution in December. Jost’s character also unveiled a new Department of War logo that he described as having a "Nazi vibe."
James Austin Johnson appeared as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claiming that recent recalls of pork, beef and goat meat had led the department to recommend catfish, pony and cricket as alternative protein sources for American families. He added that the agency had detected the recalls early by testing the ship’s meat supplies.
Shane Gillis hosted the episode, with musical guest Rosalía. Gillis faced online criticism for remarks made during his monologue and for an uncensored expletive that aired on the East Coast. He later apologized for the slip during the show's goodnights.
The program will pause for two weeks, with no new episodes scheduled for Oct. 17 or Oct. 24.