‘SNL’ Sparks Firestorm After Cold Open Appears to Label JD Vance as “Gay”

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The January 24, 2026 episode of Saturday Night Live started with a political sketch that immediately became a hot topic on social media.

The show began with a satirical sketch depicting Donald Trump hosting a self-centered version of the Oscars. James Austin Johnson returned to play Trump in the segment, which was broadcast on NBC.

At the start of the show, Johnson, playing Trump, explained the reason for the awards ceremony. He joked, “After everything my team at ICE has been up to, I really need something to take the heat off.” He said this while looking around the lavish, gold-decorated room, exclaiming, “Look how gold and shiny everything is!” This established the event as a self-indulgent attempt to divert attention from serious issues.

The show opened with a parody award for “best picture of me,” presented to a photo of Trump receiving a fictional FIFA Peace Prize. The joke was that Trump had invented the award just to give it to himself. Playing the role, Johnson accepted the prize with a rambling speech. He quipped, “I have so few people to thank – myself, and, of course, the big man upstairs, which is what I call my brain tumor.” He then added, “I promise you, I’m just getting started.”

A particularly memorable moment happened when JD Vance, playing himself, boasted about his beard and playfully suggested he could be the first president in a hundred years with facial hair. Trump then asked about Vance’s wife before delivering a direct, and unexpected, line: “I’m insinuating you’re gay.” The exchange quickly went viral and became one of the most widely shared clips from the performance.

Saturday Night Live’s recent cold open featured a joke calling J.D. Vance “gay.” In the sketch, Vance pointed out he would be the first president in a century to have a beard if elected in 2028. Donald Trump, also portrayed in the sketch, then asked about Vance’s wife, Usha, implying a suggestion that Vance is gay.

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) January 25, 2026

The parody awards show kept going with a “best kiss” award given to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for complimenting Trump. A surprise appearance was made by Mike Myers, who reprised his role as Elon Musk to accept a lifetime achievement award for comedy. Speaking in character, Myers deadpanned, “I’m so emotionless to be here, and if anyone knows humor, it’s me.”

The show ended with a humorous take on the Oscars’ memorial segment, but instead of honoring deceased people, it playfully “remembered” things the Trump administration was accused of harming – like NATO, diversity initiatives, the system of checks and balances, and civil rights. They even jokingly included Marjorie Taylor Greene in the list. The sketch also featured jokes about Trump claiming he once considered acquiring Greenland and Zootopia, and that he recognized the animated animals from a mental acuity test.

This episode was the second new installment of 2026 and the eleventh of its 51st season. Like many episodes this season, it began with a segment featuring Donald Trump, typically showing his reaction to current events during speeches or public appearances.

I have to say, Teyana Taylor absolutely killed it as host – she’s been getting a lot of deserved attention for her work in ‘One Battle After Another,’ and it really showed. And mark your calendars, because ‘Saturday Night Live’ is back on January 31st! We’re getting Alexander Skarsgård as host – his first time, can you believe it? – and Cardi B will be there to bring the musical energy. It’s shaping up to be a great episode!

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2026-01-25 21:14