“Saturday Night Live” made a timely return on February 28, 2026, with a cold open that addressed the recent military strikes initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The sketch featured James Austin Johnson reprising his role as former President Donald Trump, who triggered laughter with his outrageous remarks, declaring, “Happy World War III to all who celebrate!”
In a humorous twist, Johnson’s Trump explained that the decision to attack Iran was driven by boredom with peace and a need for distraction from the ongoing Epstein files controversy. “I know on the campaign trail I promised no new foreign wars,” he said, justifying the decision by stating, “But listen: Wars, plural, right? I’m allowed to do one.”
In a meta-commentary, Trump queried why the military action was happening now. Johnson’s portrayal suggested that the timing was strategic: launching the strike just after the stock market closed for the weekend would minimize economic impact, while simultaneously plunging the “SNL” writers into chaos as they scrambled to adjust their scripts for the night.
Colin Jost made a cameo as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, humorously admitting that despite his outward confidence, he felt scared and uncertain about the situation. His comment, “When he said we were going to blow up the leader of Iran, I thought he was kidding,” added to the sketch’s comedic relief.
This episode marked “SNL’s” return after a nearly month-long hiatus and saw Connor Storrie hosting for the first time following his breakout role in the hit series “Heated Rivalry.” The show also featured a performance by Mumford & Sons as the musical guest.
Looking ahead, “SNL” is set for an exciting schedule with three consecutive weeks of new episodes. Next week, Ryan Gosling will take the stage as host for the fourth time, accompanied by musical guest Gorillaz. Following that, Harry Styles is slated to host and perform on March 14, promising more entertaining sketches and lively performances for fans of the iconic show.