Brief
SNL cold open lampoons Pete Hegseth and RFK Jr. with execution parody
Colin Jost’s opening sketch on Oct. 10 spoofed Hegseth’s war ministry and RFK Jr.’s health brief, referencing a fictional December execution.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Saturday Night Live aired a cold open on Oct. 10 that satirised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with host Colin Jost playing Hegseth and James Austin Johnson portraying Kennedy.
What happened
In the sketch, Jost, dressed as a war‑department official, announced the USS Abraham Lincoln’s return to San Diego and warned sailors that the president had asked Iran to blow up the city. He then claimed a December televised execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan would take place, joking that a surviving prisoner would fight boxer Jake Paul. The sketch also introduced a new Department of War emblem that "has a Nazi vibe," and featured a mock health briefing by Kennedy, who suggested renaming cold‑and‑flu season to include listeria, measles and "trench brain" season.
What the reports add
The Independent noted that the sketch referenced real‑world concerns about the carrier’s plumbing problems, supply shortages and eight suicide attempts, as reported in earlier Felo coverage. It also highlighted that the musical guest for the episode was Spanish singer‑songwriter Rosalía.
What was said
Colin Jost, as Hegseth, said, "You’re back home safe in sunny San Diego, which the president just asked Iran to blow up," and later quoted Linkin Park: "You tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter." James Austin Johnson, as Kennedy, deadpanned, "I’m happy to report that America is healthier than ever," before proposing the new season name.
How it came about
The parody builds on SNL’s tradition of lampooning current political figures. Felo previously reported on the same cold open’s reference to the carrier’s issues and the fictional execution, linking the sketch to ongoing public debate about military transparency and media sensationalism.
Key facts
- Saturday Night Live aired a cold open on Oct. 10 featuring Colin Jost as Pete Hegseth. (independent.co.uk)
- The sketch mocked a fictional December televised execution of Nidal Malik Hasan. (independent.co.uk)
- James Austin Johnson portrayed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivering a satirical health briefing. (independent.co.uk)
- The episode’s musical guest was Spanish singer‑songwriter Rosalía. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Saturday Night Live skewers Pete Hegseth in Colin Jost’s cold open”
