In its latest episode, Saturday Night Live took aim at the White House’s handling of the release of 20,000 emails connected to Jeffrey Epstein, using this high-profile event as the subject of its cold open.
Ashley Padilla stepped into the role of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, portraying her as frantically attempting to sidestep inquiries about the notorious sex offender’s links to former President Donald Trump.
This satirical press briefing cleverly incorporated actual statements made by the administration over the past week, following multiple mentions of Trump within the disclosed emails.
Notably, this was the first time SNL had spoofed Leavitt, who is a prominent figure in the Trump Administration. Padilla’s portrayal was spot-on, complete with a blonde wig, a striking gold crucifix, and attire seemingly straight from Leavitt’s own wardrobe.
Padilla opened the sketch with a humorous line: “I am just so excited to be here and answer your friendly questions. As you all know, there was no news this week,” setting the tone for a segment that expertly balanced comedy and commentary.
‘I am just so excited to be here and answer your friendly questions. As you all know, there was no news this week,’ she began.
‘Nothing happening with the president. No weird information was revealed. No one had any accusations that rhyme with ‘edophile’.
‘So I’ll open the floor to questions starting with Kaitlan Collins from CNN who I openly hate, go ahead.’
Ashley Padilla played White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt desperately trying to deflect questions about the billionaire sex trafficker’s ties to Donald Trump
The real Leavitt on Wednesday trying to answer questions about Trump appearing in the Epstein emails
Leavitt frequently spars with Collins in press briefings and both she and Trump have openly insulted her when they don’t like her questions.
As she did in real life this week, Collins – played by Chloe Fineman – immediately asked about Trump appearing in Epstein’s emails.
‘We definitely need to start with the 20,000 Epstein emails. Why does President Trump’s name appear in so many of them?’ she said.
Padilla replied: ‘You know you suck, right?’ which was a tamer version of some of the real-life attacks Leavitt made on Collins in the past.
‘Look, the only thing these emails prove is that President Trump did nothing wrong. If anything, his crime was loving too much. And possibly too young,’ she said.
This line was almost a carbon copy of Leavitt’s actual response to the email release, including one where Epstein claimed Trump ‘knew about the girls’.
‘These emails prove absolutely nothing other than President Trump did nothing wrong,’ the real Leavitt said last week.
‘These stories are nothing more than bad-faith efforts to distract from President Trump’s historic accomplishments, and any American with common sense see right through this hoax and clear distraction from the government opening back up again.’
Kaitlan Collins, played by Chloe Fineman, asking about the Epstein emails and being insulted by Leavitt – just as happens in real life
Trump and Jeffrey Epstein’s close ties were referenced many times in the billionaire sex trafficker’s emails
Next up was a self-described ‘unnamed black guy’ from Fox News, played by Kam Patterson, who threw Padilla a softball about Trump’s health.
‘Is President Trump too healthy?’ he asked, referencing another storyline from last week where Trump several times appeared to be having health issues.
‘Thank you. And yes, he got his 30th physical last week and it went great,’ Padilla replied, just as Leavitt and others always do when Trump’s health is questioned.
‘He took a cognitive test and did so well, they said, ‘We’d like to see you again as soon as possible’.’
Bowen Yang, playing an MSNBC reporter, shifted back to Epstein, asking about reports his sidekick Ghislaine Maxwell may have her sentence commuted by Trump.
‘Are you not worried about the optics of Trump giving Epstein’s partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell, a sweetheart deal?’ he asked.
Padilla replied: ‘Ghislaine Maxwell said in a sworn deposition she gave to Trump’s friend that Trump always acted like a gentleman. And a little thing about me? I believe women.’
Maxwell’s deposition, conducted with the FBI earlier this year, denied Trump did anything wrong was widely viewed as an attempt to convince him to reduce or commute her own sex-trafficking sentence.
A self-described ‘unnamed black guy’ from Fox News, played by Kam Patterson, who threw Padilla a softball about Trump’s health
James Austin Johnson, playing Trump as he does most weeks, took over and insisted he ‘barely knew’ Epstein
Padilla begged the press pool to move on to another topic, and a reporter played by Andrew Dismukes obliged – but not in a way she liked.
He asked about Trump sending $20 billion of US taxpayer money to bail out Argentina, which is led by his buddy President Javier Milei.
‘We shall return to Epstein!’ Padilla responded, prompting James Austin Johnson, playing Trump as he does most weeks, to take over.
‘Jeffrey Epstein, I barely knew the guy, as evidenced by the thousands of pictures of us together, dancing and grinding our teeth at various parties,’ he insisted.
‘Always leering and pointing at something just off camera. Probably a book we’re excited to read.
‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to release all of the Epstein files. This is great. Each file will be on sale for the low, low price of $800.’
