In a recent episode of Saturday Night Live, cast member Ashley Padilla took on the role of a suburban mother struggling with her political views after having voted for Trump in 2024. In a comedic yet telling sketch, Padilla’s character reveals her unexpected regret to her shocked family, urging them not to overreact to her change of heart.
The revelation sparks immediate chaos. Padilla’s character expresses her dilemma, saying, “I may have changed my mind… about Trump,” which leads to a comical reaction from her adult children. Tommy Brennan’s character is taken aback, exclaiming, “I’m sorry, mom. You’ve got to be joking,” while Jane Wickline’s character chastises her for being late to realize what they’ve been saying since 2016.
As the sketch unfolds, Padilla’s character grapples with the confusion and doubts she has started to harbor about the former president’s statements and policies. “I feel like… maybe some of the things [Trump] says… aren’t true,” she confesses, causing further uproar among her family.
The humor escalates when her character mentions her newfound understanding of issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, particularly questioning her previous fears about trans individuals and finding drag queens funny. One of her children, played by Sarah Sherman, expresses exasperation, signaling a generational divide within the family about understanding these social topics.
Host Alexander Skarsgård, playing the father, jumps to Padilla’s defense, humorously attributing her confusion to outdated technology, declaring that her “laptop is old” and that she receives a different kind of information online. This comedic exchange highlights the recurring theme of the sketch—that political and social discussions often mirror generational divides in understanding and accepting differing viewpoints.
This episode of SNL captures the complexities of navigating political beliefs within families, particularly in today’s divisive climate. Through laughter, the sketch encourages viewers to reflect on the dynamics of dialogue around political identities and opinion shifts, emphasizing that change is possible, even in the most unexpected ways.