‘SNL’ takes a cold swipe at Trump’s indictment

CNN
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The cold open to “Saturday Night Live” featured comedian James Austin Johnson considering a possible prison sentence as indicted former President Donald Trump.

“Well folks, it happened. I got charged,” Johnson said, later pushing back against the former president’s rhetoric, saying, “What the radical left Democrats are doing to me is worse than any crime that I have ever committed, and I have committed many.

Johnson as Trump joked that he would be releasing an album of 30 classic covers to raise money from supporters called “Now That’s What I Call My Legal Defense Fund”, a play on the “Now That’s What I Call My Legal Defense” compilation albums. That’s What I Call”.

“My friends, your hard-earned money is important. If I go to jail, I will need money for the commissioner’s snacks,” Johnson said. “I will need a supply of ramen to successfully barter with a great man named Lizard.”

He joked that the song “Justice For All”, an actual single released in March by a choir of men who are in prison for their part in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, which features a recording of the former president, was a top download and beat out Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” “which, as we all know, is about Liam (Hemsworth).”

The skit featured a series of cameos from other cast members portraying artists and known Trump supporters with duets on the fictional album, including Kenan Thompson as boxer Don King, Mikey Day as Donald Trump Jr. .and Devon Walker as an Afroman.

“I really don’t want to go to jail, but when I think about how shredded I could be, it’s awfully tempting,” Johnson joked.

The indictment marks the first time in US history that a current or former president has been criminally charged. The indictment has been filed under seal and the charges are not yet public.

Trump is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon for his arraignment, sources told CNN, and Johnson reminded viewers of the unfolding event when he closed the skit by saying, “Manhattan, I’ll see you Tuesday We’ll be wild.