Donald Trump ditches Steve Bannon for Jared Kushner—played by Jimmy Fallon—on SNL
Another week, another Saturday Night Live cold open with Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump. And not even SNL can resist delving into the palace intrigue of the real-life power battle between Trump’s two top White House advisers.
After taking some advice from Beck Bennett as Vice President Mike Pence — “Sir, I love it when you joke so casually about North Korea” — Baldwin calls Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner into the Oval Office.
Bannon, Trump’s chief strategist, was again portrayed on the show as the Grim Reaper. Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, was played by last night’s SNL host, Jimmy Fallon (dressed in the same flak-jacker-and-blazer outfit Kushner was mocked for wearing last week while visiting troops in Iraq).
In an Apprentice-style scene, the former reality TV star-turned-president tells Bannon and Kushner he must choose between his two top aides.
“Standing before my are my two top advisers,” Trump said. “But I only have one photo in my hand. That’s right — tonight is elimination night.”
“Jared, I’ve sent you all around the world to represent me,” Trump told Kushner. “But no one has ever heard you speak. You’re like a little Jewish Amélie. And Steve, you may be smart, but I once walked in on you eating a live pig in the Roosevelt Room.”
Trump explains whoever’s face is on the photo in his hand gets to stay on as his adviser — and also wins a cash prize. The other must leave and “join Kellyanne Conway in the basement.”
Alas, it is Fallon’s face on the photo and Bannon is dragged away by another, larger Grim Reaper. Kushner, who still refrains from speaking a word, then takes a seat at the Resolute Desk.
“Jared, you’re such an inspiration,” Trump said. “You’ve shown everyone that if you’re born rich and marry my daughter, you can do anything you want. Have a seat at your new desk. I’d like you to, uh, just fix everything, okay?”
