This was absolutely disgusting.
Tom Hanks’ appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL) for the show’s 50th anniversary sparked considerable controversy, especially among conservatives. During the skit, Hanks dressed up like a White male Trump supporter, wearing a red Make America Great Again hat and talked with a rural accent. The scene was part of a segment on the show called “Black Jeopardy,” where Hanks’ character initially refuses to shake the hand of the Black host, played by Kenan Thompson, after answering a question correctly. Many saw the portrayal as a negative stereotype of Trump supporters.
Outkick founder Clay Travis wasted no time in criticizing the sketch, calling out the show’s depiction of Trump voters. “For the 50th anniversary special, SNL made Tom Hanks act like a racist Trump supporter who was scared to shake a black person’s hand,” Travis wrote on X. He also pointed out that the 2024 election will be “the least racially divisive election since 1964,” referencing the nation’s political history before the Civil Rights era.
Hanks had portrayed a similar character back in 2016, just days before Donald Trump won his first election. This repeated use of the same character has led some critics to argue that such sketches rely on outdated and unfair tropes. Link Lauren, a former political advisor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also weighed in, calling the depiction of MAGA supporters as racist a “tired trope.” He criticized the show for its failure to adapt, writing on X, “SNL is an unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites.” He also pointed out that the Republican Party today is a broad coalition, with many former Democrats, and the show’s portrayal failed to reflect that.
Other conservative voices, including influencer Kevin Dalton, echoed similar frustrations. “Tom Hanks in a MAGA hat, horrified at the idea of shaking a black man’s hand, tells you everything you need to know about what the left has learned since November,” Dalton posted. “This kind of stereotype will only continue to cost the left as they lose election after election.”
The ongoing backlash against such portrayals highlights the growing divide in American entertainment and politics. Many former SNL cast members, like Jon Lovitz and Kevin Nealon, have remarked on how comedy has become increasingly political and snarkier in recent years. For conservatives, this kind of humor only reinforces their belief that the media and Hollywood are out of touch with mainstream America, further fueling the divide between the left and right.
WATCH:
For its 50 year anniversary special, SNL had Tom Hanks play a racist Trump supporter afraid to shake a black man’s hand. Fun fact: Trump’s 2024 election win was the LEAST racially divisive American election since 1964. pic.twitter.com/0gdocaaktH
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 17, 2025