Actor criticized for portrayal of Trump supporter on 50th anniversary special

Hollywood icon Tom Hanks has come under fire from conservative audiences for his portrayal of a Trump-supporting character during the “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) 50th anniversary special. Critics have condemned the depiction as “disgusting” and “tired,” accusing the show of perpetuating negative stereotypes.

Hanks reprises controversial role

The two-time Academy Award-winning actor returned to SNL on Sunday night to play “Doug,” a simple-minded, MAGA hat-wearing contestant on the recurring skit “Black Jeopardy.” The sketch, originally aired in 2016, humorously juxtaposes Doug’s worldview with those of Black contestants, highlighting unexpected similarities.

During the segment, Doug initially refuses to shake hands with the game show host, Darnell Hayes, played by longtime SNL cast member Kenan Thompson.

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“Don’t like that, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Doug exclaims before hesitantly shaking Hayes’ hand. Later in the sketch, he quips, “Maybe I’ll start a show for you to come on, and we’ll call it ‘White Jeopardy.’”

Conservatives denounce the sketch

The portrayal quickly sparked outrage among Trump supporters, who slammed the skit as divisive and insulting.

“This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter,” former Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aide Link Lauren wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting. SNL is an unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites.”

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Conservative commentator Benny Johnson echoed the sentiment, accusing the show’s writers of failing to learn from past criticisms. “SNL decided it was a good idea to depict Tom Hanks as a ‘Racist Trump Supporter’ in a MAGA Hat afraid to shake a Black man’s hand,” Johnson posted. “Donald Trump just won a landslide election and has never been more popular with Americans.”

The widely followed conservative social media account Libs of TikTok labeled the skit as “propaganda” and dismissed it as “dumb.”

Political jabs throughout the anniversary special

The three and a half-hour SNL special also included multiple jabs at the current administration and its policies.

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During the opening monologue, SNL veteran Steve Martin joked about sailing through the “Gulf of Steve Martin”—a reference to President Trump’s recent decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”

Later, Martin was joined by longtime collaborator Martin Short, who became the subject of an immigration joke. “Do you have your passport on you? ICE, get him!” Martin exclaimed as actors dressed as ICE agents dragged Short off the stage.

“No! I’ll name names! Mike Myers! Jim Carrey!” Short yelled in mock desperation, referencing fellow Canadian comedians as he was escorted away.

The controversial nature of the night’s sketches has reignited debates about SNL’s political humor and its impact on audiences across the political spectrum.