SNL Mocks Former Trump Attorney General Pam Bondi in Cold Open

The sketch pokes fun at Bondi's firing and her tenure in the Trump administration.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:07am

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Saturday Night Live's latest cold open took aim at former Trump administration Attorney General Pam Bondi, mocking her recent firing and her time in office. The sketch featured exaggerated portrayals of Bondi and other political figures, delivering sharp commentary on current events and controversies.

Why it matters

The SNL cold open reflects the continued public scrutiny and criticism surrounding Pam Bondi's tenure as Attorney General, particularly her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and her perceived failure to aggressively pursue political opponents of the Trump administration. The sketch underscores the show's role in satirizing and commenting on high-profile political figures and events.

The details

The cold open began as a parody of a basketball post-game show, with Kenan Thompson playing Charles Barkley. Barkley repeatedly went off-topic, criticizing issues like the war with Iran and the Artemis II space mission, before directly addressing Bondi's firing. Ashley Padilla then entered as an exaggerated version of Bondi, defending her record and claiming she made history as the 'first woman ever to be fired as Attorney General.' The sketch ended with Barkley offering a sarcastic consolation to Bondi about potentially working in sports.

  • Pam Bondi was fired as Attorney General on April 2, 2026, ending her 14-month tenure in the Trump administration.
  • The Saturday Night Live episode featuring the Bondi cold open aired on April 6, 2026.

The players

Pam Bondi

The former Attorney General in the Trump administration, who was recently fired from her position.

Donald Trump

The former president who appointed Bondi as Attorney General and later dismissed her from the role.

Todd Blanche

The former defense lawyer for Donald Trump, who replaced Bondi as the new Attorney General.

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What they’re saying

“'Now, this might get me fired, so I'm gonna choose my words real careful right now,'”

— Kenan Thompson (as Charles Barkley), SNL Cast Member

“'I am proud to say I made history as the first woman ever to be fired as Attorney General. I shattered that glass exit door.'”

— Ashley Padilla (as Pam Bondi), SNL Cast Member

What’s next

The Saturday Night Live episode featuring the Pam Bondi cold open aired on April 6, 2026, just days after her dismissal from the Trump administration on April 2. It remains to be seen how Bondi will respond to the sketch's portrayal of her tenure and firing.

The takeaway

The SNL cold open underscores the continued public scrutiny and criticism surrounding Pam Bondi's time as Attorney General, particularly her handling of high-profile cases and her perceived loyalty to the Trump administration. The sketch reflects the show's role in satirizing and commenting on the actions of political figures, even after they have left office.