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SNL's Trump Assassination Joke Sparks White House Backlash
Controversial comedy sketch draws cheers from liberal audience, raising concerns over normalizing political violence.
Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:36pm
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The controversial 'SNL' sketch about the assassination of a former president exposes the growing normalization of political violence in popular culture.NYC TodayA recent 'Saturday Night Live' sketch featuring a joke about the assassination of former President Donald Trump has sparked a strong rebuke from the White House. During the 'Weekend Update' segment, cast member Michael Che made a comment referencing the murder of President Abraham Lincoln, which was met with cheers from the audience. The White House condemned the joke as unacceptable and warned that such rhetoric could embolden those harboring violent fantasies against elected officials.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the growing divide in the country and the concerning trend of political violence being normalized, even in the context of comedy. There are concerns that this type of rhetoric, coming from a prominent cultural institution, could further erode civility and embolden extremists.
The details
In the sketch, Che noted that Trump attended the opening night performance of 'Chicago' at the Trump Kennedy Center, then quipped, 'I think that's cool that the president is going to the theater. I mean — what's the worst that could happen?' This was a reference to the assassination of President Lincoln, which drew 'massive cheers' from the liberal audience. The White House condemned the joke, with a spokesman stating that 'Saturday Night Live' has not been 'a good television show since President Trump hosted it.'
- The sketch aired during the April 7, 2026 episode of 'Saturday Night Live'.
- The White House issued its response shortly after the episode aired.
The players
Michael Che
A cast member of 'Saturday Night Live' who made the controversial joke about the assassination of a former president.
Donald Trump
The former president whose attendance at a theater performance was the subject of the joke.
Davis Ingle
A White House spokesman who condemned the 'SNL' sketch and criticized the show's decline in quality since Trump hosted it.
What they’re saying
“'I think that's cool that the president is going to the theater. I mean — what's the worst that could happen?'”
— Michael Che, SNL Cast Member
“'Saturday Night Live' hasn't been a good television show since President Trump hosted it.”
— Davis Ingle, White House Spokesman
What’s next
The White House has indicated that it will continue to condemn any rhetoric that could be seen as normalizing or encouraging political violence, and may consider taking further action against 'SNL' or NBC if similar incidents occur in the future.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the growing divide in the country and the concerning trend of political violence being normalized, even in the context of comedy. There are concerns that this type of rhetoric, coming from a prominent cultural institution, could further erode civility and embolden extremists.
