Comedian Chris Rock returned to Saturday Night Live this weekend as host, delivering a monologue that sparked mixed reactions by poking fun at President-elect Donald Trump, anti-Trump liberals, and former President Bill Clinton.
Known for his sharp wit and willingness to address controversial topics, Rock took aim at both sides of the political spectrum in his performance.
Rock began his monologue with a light jab at the show’s history, congratulating creator Lorne Michaels on 50 years of SNL by quipping that the show had “25 great years.”
He then quickly delved into politics, reflecting on what he called a tough year for African Americans. “It’s been a bad year for my people … the blacks,” Rock joked, referencing Kamala Harris’s loss in the election, recent news about Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, and Jake Paul’s boxing win over a nearly 60-year-old Mike Tyson.
Shifting to President-elect Donald Trump, Rock acknowledged his return to the White House with tongue-in-cheek remarks. “Trump had a good year, man,” Rock said.
“Trump survived an assassination attempt, won the presidency again by winning the popular vote, and was just named Time ‘Man of the Year.’ You know? It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”
Rock followed up with pointed criticism of anti-Trump liberals who fear Trump’s presidency will disrupt decorum. “A lot of people are scared. Like, ‘Oh, my God, he’s going to be so undignified,’” Rock said, mocking the concerns. “When I say a lot of people, I’m talking about the nine New Yorkers that didn’t vote for him, okay?”
The comedian’s most biting commentary came at the expense of former President Bill Clinton.
Addressing claims about the dignity of the presidency, Rock remarked, “Come on, man, this is not the most dignified job in the world. We’ve had presidents show up to the inauguration with pregnant slaves, okay? And I’m just talking about Bill Clinton.”
Rock’s monologue also included jokes about Joe Biden, Elon Musk, and the Menendez brothers.
He poked fun at Biden’s recent pardon of Hunter Biden, joking that while the president may have slowed down physically, “that middle finger still works.”
On Elon Musk, Rock quipped about the billionaire’s hypothetical collaboration with Trump on a project called “SpaceMex,” suggesting they might use the rocket ship to deport criminals.
While the live audience responded with laughter to many of Rock’s jokes, his equal-opportunity humor didn’t sit well with everyone.
Leftist commentators on X (formerly Twitter) expressed outrage, with some calling for Rock to face repercussions for daring to mock liberals and conservatives alike.
One user suggested Rock “needed to be slapped by Will Smith again,” referencing the infamous Oscars altercation.
