MAGA supporters are furious at Tom Hanks’ portrayal of a Donald Trump supporter on Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary, with many calling the Hollywood actor “tone deaf.”
The Significance of It
Since its debut on NBC on October 11, 1975, SNL has consistently used satire to challenge politicians from a wide range of political backgrounds.
Some movie stars have not been afraid to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump’s politics, and the Hollywood business as a whole has been at war with them. It’s unclear if this has affected the general public, but MAGA supporters have frequently attacked what they perceive to be an out-of-touch elite.
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On October 25, 2024, in Hollywood, California, Tom Hanks attends the 2024 AFI Fest World Premiere Screening of “Here” at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Axelle
Things to Be Aware of
Hanks revived the role of Doug, a hardline Trump supporter who first popped up in a 2016 sketch, for SNL’s 50th anniversary three-hour live special. Hanks participated in the recurrent SNL comedy “Black Jeopardy!” while sporting a Make America Great Again red cap and a jeans jacket over an American Eagle shirt.
In reference to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance, host Kenan Thompson/Darnell Hayes quipped, “Welcome to ‘Black Jeopardy,’ the only ‘Jeopardy’ where every single viewer fully understood Kendrick’s halftime performance.”
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Hanks/Doug, the game participant, declined to shake Thompson’s hand, just like in the 2016 sketch. Hanks agreed to shake Thompson’s hand after saying, “Don’t like that, woah, woah, woah,” in a southern drawl. “Maybe I’ll start a show for you to come and we’ll call it ‘White Jeopardy,'” added Hanks. “We don’t require it. “It’s not necessary for us,” Thompson stated.
The drawing infuriated MAGA members, who thought Hank’s portrayal of a Trump supporter was inappropriate. The Roundtable Show’s host, Mario Nawfal, called the comedy of “Tom Hanks as racist Trump supporter” SNL’s “tone-deaf moment” on social media site X and claimed it was a failure.
“Hollywood continues to misrepresent Trump’s fans as racist stereotypes despite his record-breaking minority support. He said, “SNL’s trying 2016 jokes in 2025.”
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What Individuals Are Saying
Link Lauren, former senior adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who is now secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, wrote on X: “Tom Hanks just came out on SNL in a MAGA hat for a bit where he acted like he didn’t want to shake a Black man’s hand. This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter. Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting. SNL is an unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites.”
“SNL decided it was a good idea to depict Tom Hanks as a ‘Racist Trump Supporter’ in a MAGA Hat who is afraid to shake a Black man’s hand,” Benny Johnson, host of The Benny Show, wrote on X. There has never been a more popular candidate among Americans than Donald Trump, who recently won a landslide victory. They haven’t gained any knowledge.
“Tom Hanks went on SNL dressed like a slob, mocking millions of Trump supporters—portraying them as stupid, racist, rednecks,” MAGA supporter Sara Rose posted on X. Keep going, libs. You won’t ever be elected again.”
“Who knew so many people who not only despise SNL and Tom Hanks would suddenly decide to watch it?” said X user Seven on X. Fascinating.
“Hey MAGA,” I’myourhuckleberry posted on X. Could Tom Hanks portraying you in a Saturday Night Live spoof make you cry a little more? Do you require a secure environment?
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