Looks like even the loudest critics can secretly become fans… when the joke lands just right. Yes, the same man who has spent years roasting TV comedy just couldn’t resist sharing a cheeky clip from across the pond this weekend.
Donald Trump may not be the biggest cheerleader of Saturday Night Live, but something about its British cousin clearly caught his eye.
On Sunday, Trump posted a clip from the debut episode of Saturday Night Live UK on his platform Truth Social. Interestingly, he didn’t add a single word, just dropped the video and let it do the talking.
A nervous Starmer takes centre stage
The clip features actor George Fouracres doing a spot-on (and slightly panicked) impression of Keir Starmer.
In the sketch, Starmer is shown nervously preparing to call Trump, clearly unsure how to handle the conversation. “Golly! What if Donald shouts at me? What do I say, Lammy?” he frets, before losing his nerve completely the moment Trump’s voice appears.
He quickly hangs up, calling Trump “scary, scary… wonderful,” and wondering why he’s so difficult to talk to. Awkward? Very. Funny? Definitely.
The clip Trump didn’t show
Here’s where things get interesting. The version Trump shared was trimmed. It cut off before Starmer actually gathers courage or says anything bold.
In the full sketch, Starmer leaves a voice note referencing Friends, yes, that Ross-and-Rachel “we were on a break” moment. He suggests maybe the UK and the US need a similar “break,” at least until things cool down.
The punchline gets sharper. Starmer jokes that Trump seems eager to start World War III (yikes), adds that Britain can’t join in, but casually offers access to naval bases.
Trump vs the original ‘SNL’: A long history
This little moment feels ironic, given Trump’s long-standing dislike for the original show created by Lorne Michaels.
Over the years, he has frequently criticised the American version, especially its political sketches. Actor James Austin Johnson often plays Trump in those cold opens, something the US president hasn’t always enjoyed.