SNL Cold Open Mocks Trump & Hegseth Over Iran War

The sketch also addressed the firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Saturday Night Live cold open satirized President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's handling of the war in Iran. Colin Jost portrayed Hegseth, who downplayed the conflict as a 'situationship' rather than a war. Ashley Padilla's Kristi Noem also addressed her firing as Secretary of Homeland Security.

Why it matters

The SNL sketch highlights the ongoing political tensions and controversies surrounding the Trump administration's foreign policy decisions and personnel changes.

The details

In the cold open, Jost as Hegseth held a press conference to provide updates on the war in Iran, using aggressive and flippant language. He interrupted a reporter's question to clarify that the situation was not a 'war' but a 'situationship.' Padilla as Noem then took the stage to announce that she was not fired but 'self-deported' from her role as DHS Secretary, making controversial statements about her accomplishments and future plans.

  • The SNL cold open aired on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States.

Pete Hegseth

The Secretary of War in the Trump administration.

Kristi Noem

The former Secretary of Homeland Security who was fired from her position.

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What they’re saying

“As you may have seen from our epic Pentagon meme drops, we're treating Iran like the breathalyzer in my car and blowing it the hell up.”

— Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War (SNL)

“Whoever called this a war? Except maybe the president a couple times accidentally, OK? This isn't a war. Also, why do we have to put labels on everything, OK? What are you, my high school girlfriend? Which I had.”

— Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War (SNL)

“I just want to make it clear that I didn't get fired, I self-deported. And though I may be leaving this job, I will not be ending my mission. As I told my plastic surgeon, the work is never done.”

— Kristi Noem, Former Secretary of Homeland Security (SNL)

The takeaway

The SNL cold open highlights the ongoing political tensions and controversies surrounding the Trump administration's foreign policy decisions and personnel changes, using satire to critique the administration's handling of sensitive issues like the war in Iran and the firing of government officials.