Tom Hanks has sparked outrage among Trump supporters following his appearance on the 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live (SNL). The episode, which aired on February 16, featured a skit in which Hanks played a character named Doug, wearing a red Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat. The segment, intended to parody cultural and political divides, quickly drew criticism for its portrayal of Trump supporters.
In the sketch, Hanks’ character hesitated before shaking hands with Kenan Thompson, who played the host. The moment escalated with Doug’s quip, “Don’t like that, whoa, whoa, whoa. Maybe I’ll start a show for you to come on and we’ll call it White Jeopardy.” This line, along with the portrayal of MAGA supporters as racially insensitive, led to a wave of backlash on social media. Many Trump supporters accused the skit of perpetuating harmful stereotypes and alienating a significant portion of the audience.
Critics, including former Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advisor Link Lauren, argued that the skit reinforced a tired narrative about Trump supporters being racist and out of touch. Lauren also pointed to SNL’s declining ratings, suggesting that the show’s focus on “snobbish liberal elites” is driving viewers away. The backlash underscores the deep cultural and political divides that continue to shape public reactions to media portrayals of political figures and their supporters.
