Nikki Haley made a cameo appearance during Saturday Night Live’s cold open. The response on social media appeared quickly and it was about what you would expect when a conservative dares to enter the progressive show’s studio.
The show’s cold open this week was a skit of a Republican town hall on CNN. Haley was sitting in the audience. She stood as though she was a voter with a question for Donald Trump, played by cast member James Austin Johnson. She asked him, “Why won’t you debate Nikki Haley?”
“Oh my God it’s the woman who was in charge of security on Jan. 6,” Johnson, as Trump, exclaimed “it’s Nancy Pelosi.”
Hayley then quipped: “Are you doing ok Donald, you might need a mental competency test?”
“I took it ok and I aced the Test,” Johnson said. “I’m 100 percent mental. And I’m competent because I’m a man. That’s why women shouldn’t run the economy, in fact a woman recently asked me for 83.3 million dollars,” he added in a reference to the E. Jean Carroll defamation judgement brought against Trump last week.
“And you spent 50 million in your own legal defense do you need to borrow some money?” she said.
Johnson then went on a stream of consciousness rant that ended with him saying “I see dead people” to which Hayley responded: “That’s what voters will say when they see you and Joe on the ballot.”
At one point during the “Republican town hall,” Haley also accepted a question from the episode’s host, Emmy-winning actress Ayo Edebiri.
“I’m just curious, what would you say was the main cause of the Civil War? And do you think it starts with an ‘S’ and ends with ‘Lavery?” Edebiri pressed.
“Yep, I probably should have said that the first time,” Haley responded before quickly delivering the show’s iconic punch: “And live from New York it’s Saturday Night!”
The real Nikki Haley just appeared on SNL in a joke about her slavery question response. pic.twitter.com/iBoDQyWtqA
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) February 4, 2024
That’s pretty good. She got to get her slaps in against Trump and she got to say the iconic opening line, “And live from New York it’s Saturday Night!.” The reference to her botched answer about the cause of the Civil War was an opportunity for her to make fun of herself.
I didn’t see the show because I never watch it anymore. It hasn’t been funny in years. When I learned she was on Saturday’s show, I checked social media. The intolerant progressive left was having its mandatory hissy fit that the show allowed Nikki Haley some air time.
Nikki Haley just appeared in the cold open for SNL.
Saturday Night Live sure does have a long track record of comedy-washing hateful conservatives.
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) February 4, 2024
This one brought some receipts:
reminder that nikki haley said all these things but it’s cute she’s on #snl so fun pic.twitter.com/ASF2czFPdf
— Leah @whilereadingandwalking on IG 🌻 (@reading_while) February 4, 2024
turning SNL on to watch ayo edebiri host and being met with real life actual nikki haley is one of the grossest cons of all time
— Rozzie (@rozzheeg) February 4, 2024
You get the picture. John Podhoretz noted that Trump supporters can’t complain that she got the spotlight when he has a history of cameos and hosting the show himself.
Nikki Haley showing she can play on SNL and Trump and his psycho followers can’t exactly complain since he hosted the thing.
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) February 4, 2024
Trump has a long history with SNL. It began on September 24, 1989, SNL’s 15th anniversary special. He was in the audience and Chevy Chase dumped popcorn on his head during a slapstick routine. Trump made his debut as a host on April 3, 2004, soon after The Apprentice launched. On November 7, 2015, he hosted SNL again, Trump’s appearance on that show produced the highest ratings SNL had in four years. It’s become a tradition in recent years for presidential candidates to appear on the show.
The crazy conspiracy theory about Taylor Swift and an endorsement of Joe Biden was mocked.
Good for Nikki Haley for going into an unfriendly venue and getting exposure on national television. I’m sure Trump will have something to say on Truth Social.
Next week’s guest is Shane Gillis. He’s the newest partner with Bud Light to appeal to beer drinkers. He was fired from SNL when old jokes surfaced that were deemed racist.
Next show!!! pic.twitter.com/P6J6QQqOFY
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) February 4, 2024
That should be interesting.