{"id":43780,"date":"2025-04-14T11:54:06","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T15:54:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=43780"},"modified":"2025-04-22T16:48:40","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T20:48:40","slug":"snl-sparks-outrage-with-easter-sketch-comparing-trump-to-jesus-mocking-christians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2025\/04\/snl-sparks-outrage-with-easter-sketch-comparing-trump-to-jesus-mocking-christians.html","title":{"rendered":"‘SNL’ Sparks Outrage With Sketch Comparing Trump to Jesus, Mocking Christians"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Saturday Night Live \/ YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In a move that has drawn backlash from many Christians and conservatives, “Saturday Night Live” used its Easter weekend episode to compare President Donald Trump to Jesus Christ \u2014 and mock both faith and the economy in the process.<\/p>\n

The cold-open sketch featured cast member James Austin Johnson reprising his satirical role as Trump. Johnson launched into a bizarre monologue that mixed Bible imagery, economic headlines, and religious mockery.<\/p>\n

“It’s me, your favorite president, Donald Jesus Trump, comparing myself to the Son of God once again,” Johnson’s Trump declared at the start of the skit. The scene opened with a dramatic re-creation of Jesus flipping tables in the temple, outraged at merchants profiting in God’s house. But just seconds later, Trump “hijacks” the scene, steering the focus to himself.<\/p>\n

Throughout the monologue, Trump likens himself to the Messiah, tying in the recent rollercoaster of stock market prices to the death and resurrection of Christ.<\/p>\n

“The stock market did a Jesus,” he says. “It died, then on the third day it was risen. And then, on a fourth day, it died again, possibly never to return. Just like Jesus.”<\/p>\n

The sketch targets Trump’s recent tariff decisions, which sent markets tumbling earlier this month before a temporary 90-day pause provided brief relief. However, the economy wasn’t the only target\u2014the show also mocked the struggles Americans face with soaring inflation, especially the skyrocketing cost of eggs ahead of Easter.<\/p>\n

“We love Easter. We love bunny. We love hunting for eggs, just like everyone’s doing in the grocery store right now. Because they cost a trillion billion dollars,” Johnson’s Trump quipped.<\/p>\n

He added, “I thought that was what the whole campaign was about. But I just can’t crack it,” a jab at both Easter egg traditions and economic frustrations.<\/p>\n

Perhaps most controversially, the sketch took direct shots at religious observance itself. Trump’s character mocked casual Christianity, saying, “Some people only go to church on Christmas and Easter. Not me! I don’t go on those days either.”<\/p>\n

The mockery culminated with a joke about a fictional “Trump Bible,” blending commercialism and sacred Scripture: “In the holiest of seasons, Easter, let us remember the lesson Mr. Jesus taught\u2026 we must never mix religion with commerce. You can read all about that in my Trump Bible.”<\/p>\n

For many believers, the skit crossed a line \u2014 turning one of Christianity’s most sacred holidays into fodder for political and religious mockery.<\/p>\n

Critics online quickly pointed out that the sketch trivialized the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ \u2014 the cornerstone of the Christian faith \u2014 for the sake of cheap laughs. Others noted the growing trend in media to use Christian symbols and language as punchlines, especially when intertwined with political commentary.<\/p>\n

While “SNL” has long been known for its sharp political satire, this Easter sketch left many asking: Is nothing sacred anymore?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a move that has drawn backlash from many Christians and conservatives, “Saturday Night Live” used its Easter weekend episode to compare President Donald Trump to Jesus Christ \u2014 and mock both faith and the economy in the process. The cold-open sketch featured cast member James Austin Johnson reprising his satirical role as Trump. Johnson…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":43783,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\n'SNL' Sparks Outrage With Sketch Comparing Trump to Jesus, Mocking Christians<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"SNL\u2019s Easter sketch comparing Trump to Jesus sparks backlash, with critics accusing the show of mocking faith and the economy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2025\/04\/snl-sparks-outrage-with-easter-sketch-comparing-trump-to-jesus-mocking-christians.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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