SNL Skewers Trump’s Tariffs In Hilarious Sketch That Has Viewers Laughing Out Loud
"My favorite word, tariff, which, of course, is short for a-terrific-idea."
Saturday Night Live brought the laughs in its April 5 episode, with a sharp and absurdly funny cold open that left viewers in stitches. The sketch featured cast member James Austin Johnson reprising his role as former President Donald Trump, this time taking aim at Trump’s recent Rose Garden speech about imposing new tariffs on imported goods.
The parody opened with Johnson’s Trump announcing tariffs ranging from 10% to 54% on all imports, mimicking the real-life announcement with a comedic twist. From the moment Johnson appeared on screen, he launched into a stream of exaggerated Trumpisms that had the live audience and viewers at home laughing out loud.
“Thank you all for coming out to hear about tariffs. My favorite word, tariff, which, of course, is short for a-terrific-idea,” Johnson quipped in character. He described the tariffs as the "backbone of my incredible plan for our economy."
Poking fun at the seemingly arbitrary nature of the proposed rates, Johnson added, “It’s actually better than a plan, because it's a series of random numbers, like the numbers on the computer screen in Severance.”
Continuing the bit, he said, “You have no idea what the hell they mean, but I know what the numbers mean … They mean we're gonna make America wealthy again. You know you're gonna check your stock portfolio in a couple days and think ‘I'm almost too wealthy.’”
True to form, the sketch didn’t stop at economic policy. Johnson’s Trump went on to announce a new acronym, MAWA — Make America Wealthy Again — before jokingly pivoting to an even more extreme plan.
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“We're going to do MAGDA — Make America Great Depression Again … It'll be better than great. It'll be a fantastic, unbelievable depression, the likes of which have never been seen before,” he said, with signature Trump bravado.
The sketch was a classic example of SNL’s ability to blend political satire with over-the-top humor, with Johnson once again nailing the cadence, mannerisms, and off-the-cuff style of the former president. The segment quickly gained traction online, as fans praised Johnson’s impression and the show’s timely commentary on the economic implications of tariff policy.
It didn’t take long for social media to light up with reactions to Saturday Night Live’s latest political parody. Viewers quickly took to Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram to share their thoughts on the cold open, many praising both the writing and James Austin Johnson’s uncanny portrayal of Donald Trump.
One user posted, “SNL nails it – MAGDA, Make America Great Depression Again and other gems.” The line, pulled straight from the sketch, quickly became a fan favorite and was widely quoted across platforms.
Another viewer shared their appreciation for the satirical clarity the segment brought to the topic, writing, “Thanks, SNL!! Now the tariffs make a lot more sense.”
A third chimed in with a more pointed take, joking, “I really appreciate how much SNL despises Trump, it's truly an art form.” Comments like these reflected the ongoing divide in political humor, with fans embracing SNL’s bold comedic commentary on current events.
The sketch also sparked memes and remix videos, with clips of the fictional “MAGDA” plan being re-shared with captions, reactions, and even parody economic charts. Within hours, #MAGDA was trending, showing that SNL’s sharp blend of comedy and commentary still resonates strongly with its audience.
