SNL Cold Open Mocks Trump Over Soaring Gas Prices

James Austin Johnson and Colin Jost deliver satirical takes on the President and Secretary of War amid the Iran conflict.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:42pm

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In the Saturday Night Live cold open, James Austin Johnson reprised his role as President Donald Trump, making absurd claims about the reasons behind skyrocketing gas prices. Meanwhile, Colin Jost returned as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, providing comedic updates on the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Why it matters

The SNL sketch highlights the public's frustration with the administration's handling of the economic and geopolitical crises, using satire to call attention to the perceived disconnect between the President's rhetoric and the real-world impacts on American families.

The details

The skit opens with a family struggling to afford gas at $5 per gallon. Trump, as the President, then appears and offers absurd explanations for the high prices, including blaming the "Epstein files" and the "butterfly effect." Hegseth, as the Secretary of War, also makes light of the Iran conflict, claiming the U.S. has already won the war and offering reckless advice to oil tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz.

  • The SNL cold open aired on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The players

James Austin Johnson

An actor who has portrayed President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live.

Colin Jost

A comedian and writer who has played the role of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on SNL.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who is the subject of the SNL sketch's satire.

Pete Hegseth

A Fox News host who has served as a commentator on military and foreign policy issues.

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What they’re saying

“The stock market is going in one direction: down!”

— Donald Trump, President

“If you're wondering why I was in the back seat of this random family's car, I'll tell you the same thing I say when people ask about our plans for Iran: I don't know.”

— Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War

The takeaway

The SNL cold open serves as a scathing political satire, using humor to criticize the Trump administration's perceived mishandling of the economic and geopolitical crises facing the country, and highlighting the public's frustration with the disconnect between the President's rhetoric and the real-world impacts on American families.