Padilla, as Leavitt, told reporters, “I know you have questions for the president, but it’s very late. He’s exhausted. His brain is all over the place. So unfortunately, he can’t wait to talk to you.”
That’s when Johnson, as Trump, appeared. “It’s your favorite president, hiding behind my curtain. Ohhh!” he said. “Peek behind the curtain, something I enjoyed doing at Miss Teen USA in 1997.” He also noted that he took both an Adderall and an Ambien, “so we’re gonna see which one wins.”
After Leavitt said there was only time for a few questions, Trump turned to her and laid it on thick, declaring, “Oh, how great is Karoline Leavitt? We love her. Oh, she’s got a beautiful face. And those lips that don’t quit.”
The POTUS then pointed out, “Pretty amazing that I can just openly simp over my young, blond subordinate. It’s giving Michigan football coach. Can we get a close-up? Let’s get a close-up on her mouth. That’s one of my top mouths. Ah, I love that mouth… I’m a married man. I’m obsessed with this woman.”
University of Michigan’s head coach, Sherrone Moore, was arrested for alleged assault on December 10, after he was fired for an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
Trump added, “See? She liked it because I’m very nice to women,” before turning to a reporter and saying, “Yes, you have a question, you nasty, horrible witch.”
Later in the skit, the president said on the topic of military strikes, “We’re not just targeting drug boats, we’re targeting drug planes, as well. In fact, we have some declassified video from a strike.”
The camera then panned to a screen showing Santa’s sleigh exploding after the U.S. military locked in and opened fire.
To end the cold open, Trump instructed the camera to zoom in on Leavitt’s face, as Johnson and Padilla exclaimed, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
Saturday Night Live, Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC