Billionaire Elon Musk responded on social media after he was again mocked during Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) most recent episode after it took a satirical take on last week’s tense Oval Office meeting between President Doanld Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The show’s cold open featured a cameo from comedian and actor Mike Myers, who portrayed Musk.
Why It Matters
A high stakes meeting between Trump, Vance and Zelensky took place on Friday. The meeting, which was about a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, who have been at war since February 2022 when Russia launched its invasion, has drawn global criticism for its chaotic and contentious tone.
Trump and Vance loudly criticized Zelensky, claiming he lacked gratitude for U.S. aide. The Ukrainian leader was also criticized for not wearing a suit; Zelensky in turn said that he will wear a suit when the war in Ukraine ends and has previously said he chooses to dress this way in order to show solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers.
Musk has become an ever-growing presence in the U.S. and in global politics; a staunch ally of Trump, he has been appointed by the president to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has used his X, formerly Twitter, platform to push right-wing political movements globally.
What To Know
The cold open begins with Trump, portrayed by James Austin Johnson, and Vance, portrayed by Bowen Yang, berating Zelensky, portrayed by Mikey Day, for not showing enough gratitude for U.S. aid against Russian aggression.
Conservation turns to Zelensky’s attire, and Trump sarcastically thanks him for “dressing like casual Star Trek.” Shortly after, the Vance character asks, “Who shows up to the White House in a T-shirt and jeans like a garbage person?”
At this moment, Myers bursts in as Musk, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, wielding a chain saw.
As SNL’s opening continues, Myers, as Musk, later asks Johnson’s president: “What are you doing in my office? I’m the president now. I’m kidding. Maybe I’m not …”
“I’m so comfortable with all of that,” SNL’s Trump says.
The clip was shared on X by user @netcapgirl who wrote: “i can’t imagine the kind of person who finds this funny.”
Musk, who hosted an episode of SNL in May 2021, then responded on Sunday afternoon: “Humor fails when it lies.”
In another X post that was made early Sunday morning, Musk again criticized SNL, deriding it as “far-left propaganda,” saying that DOGE has advocated for hiring more air traffic controllers, not firing them, after also being mocked over the issue in the satirical sketch.
Since the beginning of Trump’s second term, the DOGE team has sparked backlash and praise for sweeping federal workforce and program cuts.
What People Are Saying
Elon Musk wrote on X in November 2024: “SNL has been dying slowly for years, as they become increasingly out of touch with reality.”
President Donald Trump wrote in all caps on Truth Social on Saturday February 22: “ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE. REMEMBER, WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE, BUT ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. MAGA!”
X user Aaron Matchett wrote in a post: “Trump impression was good, Zelensky bad, JD even worse. But the Wonka delivery was on point. Mike Myers was not great as Elon.”
X user @heartsinspyre wrote: “Mike Myers as Elon Musk on SNL was the best!!”
What Happens Next?
SNL has long been known for its satirical sketches and for poking fun at politicians and public figures. It’s likely that future episodes may strike a similar chord to this one.
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Elon Musk wears a shirt that says “Tech Support” as he speaks during a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., on February 26.
Elon Musk wears a shirt that says “Tech Support” as he speaks during a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., on February 26.
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images