Melania Trump as ‘Kung Lao’: Donald Trump's character on SNL makes fun of US First Lady

A recent episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) has stirred controversy for its portrayal of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his family. While some viewers criticized the show for its jokes about an assassination attempt on Trump and comments about Barron Trump’s height, others enjoyed the humor aimed at former First Lady Melania Trump.

In the skit, James Austin Johnson played Donald Trump, portraying him as the President and referencing his self-proclaimed “king era.” He joked about creating a new country “very whitely,” likening his approach to that of historical rulers.

The skit also highlighted Melania Trump’s limited public appearances during Trump’s election campaign. Johnson, in character as Trump, mentioned the inauguration, saying, “The inauguration was a tremendous success. It was inside due to cold and fear. We had a lot of surprise guests like Melania. That was nice. Melania showed up to my inauguration dressed like, frankly, Kung Lao from Mortal Kombat.”

The reference to Kung Lao, a video game character known for his iconic weaponized hat, led to more jokes about Melania’s inauguration outfit. Comparisons ranged from Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy to McDonald’s Hamburglar, with Melania’s choice of hat becoming the punchline.

The skit also poked fun at Barron Trump, comparing his six-foot-nine height to a Lord of the Rings character. Johnson’s Trump joked about Barron’s diet, crediting his growth to the meals Melania prepared. He added a humorous exchange where Trump encouraged Barron to play basketball, only for the 18-year-old to express a preference for soccer.

Reactions to the skit were divided. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), some users praised the humor, with one saying, “I’m dying… it is fabulous!” Others, however, criticized the portrayal of the Trump family, accusing SNL of crossing the line.

The skit continues to spark conversations, with fans of the show applauding the satire and critics calling it disrespectful.