The October 3, 2026, episode of Saturday Night Live opened with a sharp skewering of high-ranking Republican figures, centering on a parody of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Portrayed by Colin Jost, the segment targeted both the politician’s “macho” public persona and current celebrity business ventures, specifically Tom Holland’s non-alcoholic beer brand, Bero.
During the sketch, Jost’s Hegseth was seen chugging a can of the beverage, which he dismissively labeled “Spider-Man’s non-alcoholic b—h beer.” The performance leaned into a critique of Hegseth’s stance on military culture, featuring a “slam poetry” segment where Jost delivered lines targeting DEI and “woke” initiatives, stating there would be “no weak, no woke, no DEI, no guy-on-guy” under his leadership while claiming he was “putting God back in war.”
James Austin Johnson returned as Donald Trump, framing the segment around the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. In the sketch, Trump promised a direct cash payment of $5,000 to every American citizen on the condition that Republicans secure control of the House of Representatives. According to reporting from TheWrap, the bit served as a commentary on GOP midterm strategy and high-stakes campaign promises.
The cold open also featured a rotating cast of GOP impressions. Marcello Hernández appeared as Marco Rubio, delivering a message in Spanish that claimed he had been “tricked” by Trump into an “Iran War.” Meanwhile, Mikey Day portrayed a non-verbal Mitch McConnell, depicted in a wheelchair and responding to the scene only by slowly raising a peace sign. Jeremy Culhane rounded out the ensemble with an impression of JD Vance, while Andrew Dismukes and Ashley Padilla appeared as Republican National Committee strategists.
The episode, hosted by Dakota Johnson for her third time, featured musical guest Turnstile. The monologue included a surprise appearance by Taylor Swift, though the primary satirical focus of the night remained on the political landscape. The Daily Beast noted that the sketch effectively blended political satire with mockery of celebrity branding, particularly targeting Holland’s Bero beer which entered the market in late 2024.
