Saturday evening live Once again, Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) was brought back to its opening, this time with Donald Trump’s Secretary of Defense speaking to the crew of the beleaguered USS Lincoln.
The ship remained at sea for 265 days without a stop and with reports of poor conditions and demoralized sailors, but concerns about their fate were dismissed by Donald Trump.
At one point in tonight’s sketch, Jost’s Hegseth tells the team about his plans to broadcast a live execution. In fact, the Pentagon confirmed plans to broadcast the December execution of Nidal Hassan, sentenced to death for killing 13 people and wounding dozens more during a rampage at Fort Hood.
“As we get into the Christmas spirit, we’re going to be performing a guy live on television,” Jost said. “Yes, it’s true. Public executions are back.”
“And if the guy survives the firing squad, then he’ll have to fight Jake Paul. So check that out.”
Hegseth’s plans to livestream the execution have drawn backlash, with lawmakers from both parties condemning it and the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops calling it a “barbaric promotion of a culture of death.”
Jost played Hegseth with a constant focus on acting tough, while clearly overcompensating as one of the least qualified people to fill the position.
Carrying a sling containing small bottles of Fireball whiskey, Hegseth de Jost told the Navy crew: “I wear an ammo belt made of Fireball cinnamon whiskey – the only alcohol designed to taste better on the way back.”
Hegseth de Jost also stood in front of the new War Department logo — the Trump team’s preferred name for the Defense Department — which appears to have Third Reich influence.
One of the sailors asked, “Sorry, is that a Nazi eagle?” »
“He’s an American Eagle with a Nazi vibe,” Hegseth responded.
Last week, after Hegseth gave a speech at the Air Force Academy, social media drew a lot of attention to the revised eagle design used as a backdrop and its similarities to that used by the Nazi regime.
Tonight’s cold open also featured an appearance by Robert Kennedy Jr, played by James Austin Johnson, who attempted to imitate the deep voice of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
RFK Jr. of Johnson told the sailors: “Yes, 200,000 pounds of pork, beef and goat meat have been recalled. But I just want to point out that catfish, pony and cricket are viable proteins for any American family.”
He added: “But I want to thank you. We were able to spot these recalls early on by testing the meats on your ship. The research you provided on Hell Cruise operations will be vital for many years to come.”
Hegseth finished by quoting Lincoln – actually Linkin Park. “You’ve worked so hard and gotten this far, but in the end, it doesn’t even matter.“
He added: “Thank you for all agreeing to go down with the ship – even if it breaks my personal rule to never go down on anyone. »
Gn entert
