SNL Audience Cheers Joke About Trump Getting Assassinated

The live audience at 'Saturday Night Live' laughed and cheered at a reference to the possibility of President Trump being assassinated.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:50pm

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During a 'Weekend Update' segment on 'Saturday Night Live', host Michael Che made an apparent reference to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, asking the audience 'what's the worst that could happen?' in regards to President Trump attending a performance of 'Chicago' at the Kennedy Center. The live audience responded with loud laughter and cheers.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the continued political tensions and divisions in the country, with some audience members seemingly approving of or finding humor in the prospect of violence against the President. It raises concerns about the normalization of political violence and the need for more civil discourse, even among entertainment audiences.

The details

During the 'Weekend Update' segment on the April 5, 2026 episode of 'Saturday Night Live', host Michael Che made a joke about President Trump attending the opening night performance of the musical 'Chicago' at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Che asked the audience 'what's the worst that could happen?' in an apparent reference to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, who was shot and killed while attending a play at Ford's Theater. The live audience at 'SNL' responded with loud laughter and cheers.

  • President Trump attended the opening night of 'Chicago' at the Kennedy Center on April 1, 2026.
  • The 'SNL' episode with Che's joke aired on April 5, 2026.

The players

Michael Che

The co-anchor of the 'Weekend Update' segment on 'Saturday Night Live'.

President Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who was the subject of Che's joke.

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What they’re saying

“President Trump attended the opening night of 'Chicago' at the Kennedy Center, and I think that's cool that the President is going to the theater. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?”

— Michael Che, Weekend Update Host, Saturday Night Live

What’s next

The White House has not yet responded to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation regarding the incident.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the continued political tensions and divisiveness in the country, with some audience members seemingly approving of or finding humor in the prospect of violence against the President. It raises concerns about the normalization of political violence and the need for more civil discourse, even in entertainment settings.