‘Saturday Night Live’ host Martin Short slammed Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the show’s opening monologue this week – saying the two share ‘sexual tension.’
The barb came during a special Christmas edition of the show, and was accompanied by a musical number.
Trump ally Matt Gaetz was the first to fall victim to the Only Murders in the Building star, who appeared especially animated as he rushed on-stage insisting he had to hurry as his ‘Uber driver’ was outside.
‘And you know how testy Matt Gaetz can get,’ explained the returning host, mentioning the former congressman of Trump’s failed attorney general pick – and the spectacular flameout seen from him since.
It didn’t end there, however, with Short, 74, continuing to hone in on Trump’s cast of characters – on a night where the show itself featured a star-studded cast.
Using the traditional style of set-up and punchline, the former cast member who once led the show in the 80s tore into the Trump camp – but first thanked ‘SNL’ creator Lorne Michaels for inviting him back on.
‘You know, Lorne and I are very close friends,’ he said of the decorated producer. ‘We’re kind of like Trump and Elon Musk – without the sexual tension.’
The joke landed well with those at 30 Rock, but some onlookers online – perhaps already peeved about Musk jokes made by Chris Rock last week – were not so kind.
Scroll down for video:
‘Saturday Night Live’ host Martin Short slammed Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the show’s opening monologue this week – saying the two share ‘sexual tension.’
The barb came during a special Christmas edition of the show, where Short compared the pair’s relationship to the one he shares with SNL’s creator Lorne Michaels
‘SNL is garbage,’ one X user wrote afterwards. ‘Their insults of Trump prior to Election Day were an absolute failed attempt to sway voters. The people have spoken, SNL is irrelevant.’
‘Who the f*ck even watches SNL anymore anyway,’ added another. ‘The last one I watched was with Elon and the one before that was in the early 2000[s]. They haven’t been funny or relevant in decades.’
‘Lol pathetic liberals think they can get trump to send [E]lon packing like how [Steve) Bannon left the [W]hite [H]ouse in 2017,’ said someone else, painting ‘the primary reason for that’ ouster as then-Trump Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.
‘Not leftist bs bantering or snl.’
‘It would be AMAZING if SNL would do a skit where Elon was Prez Elect and Trump was his flunky…he would LOSE his sh*t! ‘joked another in apparent approval, asking others to ‘Repost [to] get this trending,’
‘Why isn’t #SNL trending???’ asked someone else, to the same avail. They went on to crack: ‘Musk is probably censoring it,’
Simultaneously, memes poking fun at the nature of the X owner’s relationship with the president-elect became widespread – with one reposter also comparing the situation to the one surrounding Trump and his then-strategist.
‘Saturday Night Live is going to have a field day with there opening monologues with Musk/Trump parodies. Sort of like in 2016 with Bannon,’ the person said, sharing altered images that suggested Trump was either Musk’s child or pet.
The joke landed well with those at 30 Rock, but the court of opinion seen online was somewhat split
The jokes – also lampooning almost AG Matt Gaetz and Robert F Kennedy – gave way to a satirical performance of the popular holiday number ‘We Need a Little Christmas’, and a surprise appearance from Lorne Michaels (middle) and Jimmy Fallon
Short and the rest of the cast went on to introduce the show with the trademark ‘Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!’, welcoming others like Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Tom Hanks, Melissa McCarthy, Emma Strone, Paul Rudd, Kristen Wiig, John Mulaney and Scarlett Johansson
‘That’s the ONLY GOOD THIS ELECTION DID,’ they went on to insist. ‘Gave SNL weeks of material.
‘SNL is a sh!t show, they insult everyone,’ sniped someone else. ‘That’s why I stopped watching it when Trump first ran for President.’
Musk and Gaetz, meanwhile, were not the only cabinet picks singled out by Short during his monologue – the fifth he’s given as a host since heading the show with stalwarts like Chevy Chase and Steve Martin.
The funnyman also roasted Robert F. Kennedy Jr, during his introduction to a musical “solution” meant to alleviate current cast members’ anxiety over Trump’s upcoming presidency.
‘You need a new prescription,’ Short told the American public, calling for a “drug-induced amnesia regarding the election’
‘And take it from this crooner, get those meds before they’re outlawed by RFK Jr.,” he added, referencing vaccine skepticism from Trump’s controversial health secretary pick.
That gave way to a satirical performance of the popular holiday number ‘We Need a Little Christmas’, and a surprise appearance from Michaels as well.
That came as a parading Short made his way backstage during the performance – and shared a kiss with fellow-five-time host Jimmy Fallon.
Simultaneously, memes poking fun at the nature of the X owner’s relationship with the president-elect became widespread – with one reposter also comparing the situation to the one surrounding Trump and his then-strategist Steve Bannon
Trump and Musk have so far kept mum about the episode, which also saw Short joke about the Tesla CEO’s recently released Cybertruck
The jokes served as a continuation from last week’s episode, when then host Chris Rock also poked fun at Trump’s alliance with the South African-born CEO – calling him ‘the richest African American in the world’
Fallon – after lamenting to Michaels how he ‘never kiss[es] [him] like that anymore – proceeded to award Short with his very own ‘five-timers’ club jacket, which the comedian had trouble putting on,
Short and the rest of the cast went on to introduce the show with the trademark ‘Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!’, welcoming other guests like Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, and Tom Hanks.
Previously, Short was a cast member in 1984 and 1985, and first hosted the show in December 1986.
He did so alongside longtime collaborators Martin and Chase, neither of whom appeared Saturday night.
The other cameos, meanwhile, came in celebration of the sketch comedy series 50th season, drawing other big names like John Mulaney, Paul Rudd, Scarlett Johansson, Melissa McCarthy and Emma Stone.
Trump and Musk have so far kept mum about the episode, which also saw Short joke about the Tesla CEO’s recently released Cybertruck.
‘I own five Cybertrucks. Not to drive, it’s just they’re so beautiful,’ he said, eliciting laughs from the audience.
On last week’s episode, then host Rock also poked fun at Trump’s alliance with the South African-born CEO, sarcastically calling him ‘the richest African American in the world.’
He also took swipes at Trump himself, including one about the attempts on his life.
‘Trump survived an assassination attempt,’ Rock said during his monologue. ‘Won the presidency again by winning the popular vote. Was just named ‘Time’ man of the year.
‘You know? It could happen to a nicer guy.’
