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SNL Cold Open Mocks Hegseth, USS Lincoln Homecoming

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SNL Cold Open Mocks Hegseth, USS Lincoln Homecoming

16 sourcesUpdated Oct 13, 20261 min read

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SNL Cold Open Mocks Hegseth, USS Lincoln Homecoming — Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Clint Davis / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

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On Oct. 10, Saturday Night Live opened with Colin Jost portraying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth welcoming sailors home from the USS Abraham Lincoln after a lengthy deployment. The cold open mocked reported hardships on the carrier, including suicide attempts and broken toilets, then lampooned Trump's remarks that Iran could strike San Diego or Los Angeles. It also joked about a planned televised execution and a new Department of War logo before James Austin Johnson appeared as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to riff on measles and flu season. Shane Gillis hosted, marking his third time in that role. CONTESTED: No contested facts found. One review found some of the political jokes predictable and said the show has leaned heavily on Jost's Hegseth portrayal. Left-leaning outlets covered this; no right-leaning coverage was found.

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