Tom Hanks has found himself at the center of controversy following his portrayal of a Trump supporter in Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special. The skit, which revisited the 2016 Black Jeopardy! segment, sparked outrage among Trump supporters, who accused Hanks and SNL of mocking them with outdated stereotypes.
In the skit, Hanks reprised his role as Doug, a working-class Trump voter wearing an American Eagle T-shirt and a red Make America Great Again hat. Much like in the original version, Doug surprises the host, Darnell Hayes (played by Kenan Thompson), by answering all the questions correctly, despite the assumption that the quiz would be tailored toward Black culture.
The tension builds when Hayes extends his hand for a handshake. Doug hesitates before reluctantly shaking back. Hanks’ character then quips, “Don’t like that, whoa, whoa, whoa,” before suggesting, “Maybe I’ll start a show for you to come on and we’ll call it ‘White Jeopardy.’”
The moment, intended as satire, instead ignited a firestorm of backlash. Conservative viewers flooded social media with criticism, calling the skit tone-deaf and divisive. Many accused SNL of clinging to tired tropes, failing to acknowledge Trump’s growing popularity among minority voters.
Political commentator Benny Johnson lashed out, saying, “Donald Trump has never been more popular with Americans and just won a landslide election. They still haven’t learned.”
Right-wing pundit Mario Nawfal echoed the sentiment, calling the skit “tone deaf” and arguing that Hollywood’s portrayal of Trump voters as racist caricatures was out of touch with reality.
Former Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aide Link Lauren also voiced frustration, condemning SNL as elitist and out of touch with mainstream America. “Trump won the popular vote. It’s disgusting to use the cliché that MAGA is racist. Saturday Night Live is nothing more than a stale, unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites. Rest in peace, SNL!”
Many social media users joined the backlash, calling it one of the lowest moments of Hanks’ career. Some accused him of betraying his image as “America’s Dad” by participating in what they saw as divisive political commentary. Others blasted SNL for recycling jokes from 2016, arguing that the show had failed to evolve with the political landscape.
While neither Hanks nor SNL have responded to the criticism, the controversy has reignited debates over the role of satire in an increasingly polarized America. Some argue that comedy should challenge political figures and movements, while others see it as another example of Hollywood’s disconnect from the millions of Americans who support Trump.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: SNL’s attempt to revisit past political humor has only intensified the cultural divide, with Hanks now caught in the crossfire.