SNL parodies Trump’s Gulf diplomacy and Qatar jet deal, spotlighting satire on foreign policy and personal gain.

Satire Targets Trump’s Diplomatic Mission

“Saturday Night Live” closed its season with a biting satire of President Donald Trump’s recent Middle East trip, portraying the diplomatic tour as a self-serving venture rather than a strategic achievement. The cold open featured James Austin Johnson’s impersonation of Trump engaging in a comedic “bromance” with a fictional Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“We’re together now, kidding, of course, but we are vibing,” said Johnson’s Trump, drawing laughter as he jokingly listed his fondness for Saudi Arabia: “from the oil to the money. To – end of list.”

While the administration promoted the tour as a major foreign policy initiative yielding billions in investment deals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, SNL’s Trump claimed he also reaped personal benefits. “I didn’t make this trip for myself. I did this for the American people. And, in many ways, myself… I did very well on this trip,” he boasted.

Qatar Jet Controversy Under the Spotlight

The episode leaned heavily into the recent controversy surrounding a $400 million jet gifted by Qatar to the U.S. government. While the real President Trump defended the arrangement in a Fox News interview, citing Boeing delivery delays and calling it “a good deal,” the sketch offered a more sardonic interpretation.

“The Qataris gave me a $400 million plane… and people said that was some sort of bribe,” Johnson’s Trump said. “Not true, not true… they haven’t asked for anything in return. Well, not yet. Alright, so it’s a pre-bribe.”

The real-life deal has drawn scrutiny from House Democrats, who are investigating whether the gift violates federal ethics rules or the Emoluments Clause.

Mocking U.S. Aviation Woes

SNL also took aim at America’s aging air-traffic infrastructure and Boeing’s safety issues. “Have you seen what’s happening with our planes?” Johnson’s Trump said. “The radar is down and the screen is blank -- Newark.”

The joke referenced recent radar outages at Newark Liberty International Airport, which have caused multiple flight disruptions. The comedic tone shifted briefly into musical parody later in the episode, with host Scarlett Johansson and guest Bad Bunny performing a rap about turbulent landings and disconnected control towers.

In classic SNL fashion, the finale ended with a blend of absurdity and political commentary. The fake Trump addressed the audience directly: “After tonight, you won’t be seeing me here for a while. Well, not the fake, fun version of me that makes you smile. The real one will still be omnipresent.”

He closed with one final quip before signing off for the summer: “See you again in the fall, if we still have a country.”