Bad Bunny appearing on Saturday Night Live on October 4, 2025.
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During the Season 51 kickoff of Saturday Night Live on Saturday, musician Bad Bunny took the spotlight as host while the show delivered sharp satire targeting former President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The episode began with a cold open featuring Colin Jost as Pete Hegseth, lampooning the Defense Secretary’s recent speech to military officials at Quantico, Virginia. Jost’s portrayal mocked Hegseth’s remarks about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), joking, “Don’t want to follow the rules? No worries. ICE is lining up for you.” He added, “There’s a sign-up sheet for ICE right outside-because from now on, it’s Army only in here.”
Shortly after, James Austin Johnson appeared as Donald Trump, interrupting Hegseth’s spiel. Trump quipped, “I’m just here to keep an eye on SNL, making sure they don’t get too harsh with me.” Holding up a bruised hand, he referenced recent photos showing discoloration on his hands-a detail the White House attributed to aspirin use and frequent handshakes.
Trump then warned the show to tread lightly, or else they might face scrutiny from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr. This prompted Mikey Day’s entrance as Carr, accompanied by the tune “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell.
Trump has a history of criticizing SNL, having previously urged the FCC and Federal Election Commission to investigate the show’s portrayal of him back in 2019.
James Austin Johnson portraying Donald Trump in the “Pete Hegseth” cold open, with Colin Jost as Hegseth behind him, on October 4, 2025.
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As the guest host, Bad Bunny addressed the backlash following his announcement as the Super Bowl halftime show headliner for February. With a lighthearted tone, he remarked, “I’m thrilled, and I think everyone is too-even Fox News.” He expressed enthusiasm about representing his global fanbase.
Switching to Spanish, the Puerto Rican icon acknowledged, “Especially to all Latinos and Latinas worldwide, and here in the U.S., those who have paved the way.” He emphasized that this moment transcends personal success, symbolizing a collective achievement and cultural impact that cannot be erased. Returning to English, he added with a smile, “If you didn’t catch that, you’ve got four months to learn.”
Earlier this year, Bad Bunny revealed he would exclude U.S. dates from his upcoming world tour due to concerns over potential immigration enforcement at his concerts.
In a recent interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that ICE agents would have a strong presence at the Super Bowl event.
Back in the opening sketch, Johnson’s Trump delivered a cryptic line to Jost’s Hegseth: “May every day be another wonderful secret… That was a quote from a poem I wrote to a terrible man I never met.” This alluded to a controversial poem Trump allegedly penned in a birthday card to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a claim the former president has denied.
Later, during the “Weekend Update” segment hosted by Jost and Michael Che, the show took aim at the ongoing government shutdown and poked fun at New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to end his reelection campaign.
Attempts to obtain a White House response on Sunday resulted in an automated reply blaming Democrats for the government shutdown, which the administration claims is causing delays in communications.
