Saturday Night Live Faces Backlash for Skit Mocking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
The sketch drew criticism from MAGA supporters and some lawmakers over its portrayal of Hegseth's comments on executing a convicted Fort Hood shooter.
Saturday Night Live is facing backlash for a skit that satirized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, particularly its portrayal of his remarks regarding the planned livestreamed execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan. The cold open featured cast member Colin Jost as Hegseth, depicted with an ammunition belt filled with bottles of Fireball whiskey.
Jost's portrayal also touched on Hegseth's alleged history with alcohol, which Hegseth has denied. The sketch mocked the planned execution by firing squad of Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in the 2009 Fort Hood massacre. Hegseth had stated that public executions help people understand the consequences of such actions, comparing the mentality to that of World War II.
"In December as we get into the Christmas spirit, we're gonna execute a guy in a wheelchair on live TV. Public executions are back!" Jost's character exclaimed. The skit further joked about a potential future fight with Jake Paul if the executed individual survived, referencing a recent botched execution in Tennessee.
The sketch also targeted the new eagle logo of the Department of War, which critics had claimed had a Nazi-like aesthetic, and conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during a record deployment. Jost's Hegseth character told sailors, "I couldn't be more proud of you. Only eight of you attempted suicide," adding, "Two of you since I started talking."
The skit ignited fury online, with many MAGA supporters expressing outrage. One user on X described the parody as "staggeringly unfunny," while another claimed SNL "hates our military." Another commenter stated, "Pathetic excuse for humor."
MAGA fury at SNL skit brutally mocking 'drunk' Pete Hegseth as he announces live-streamed execution: 'This is staggeringly unfunny' | Daily Mail Online
The plan to livestream Hasan's execution has drawn condemnation from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called the idea "disgusting" and questioned if it was mimicking ISIS executions. Republican Senator Thom Tillis described it as "beyond disgusting," stating that public executions are characteristic of oppressive dictatorships. Republican Representative Austin Scott agreed, asserting that while he supports the death sentence, livestreaming executions is "what jihadists do" and that "America is better than that."
