Tom Hanks has sparked significant backlash from Trump supporters following his portrayal of a MAGA-wearing character named ‘Doug’ during the 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live (SNL), which aired on February 16. The star-studded celebration featured Hollywood icons like Meryl Streep, Martin Short, and Jack Nicholson, but it was Hanks’ skit that ignited controversy.
In the sketch, Hanks reprised his role as Doug from a previous Black Jeopardy segment. This time, however, his character, donning a red Make America Great Again hat, engaged in a parody that highlighted cultural and political divides. The most contentious moment occurred when Kenan Thompson, playing the host, extended his hand for a handshake. Hanks’ character hesitated before reluctantly accepting, ultimately making a quip that drew ire: “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 scene particularly upset many viewers, especially Trump supporters, who took to Twitter to express their anger. One critic wrote, “Tom Hanks went on SNL dressed like a slob mocking millions of Trump supporters—portraying them as dumb, racist, rednecks. Keep it up, libs. You’ll never win another election again.”
Link Lauren, a former advisor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also criticized the skit, stating, “Tom Hanks just came out on SNL in a MAGA hat for a bit where he acted like he didn’t want to shake a black man’s hand. This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter.” Lauren further argued that the portrayal of MAGA supporters as racist is a tired trope, asserting that SNL caters to “snobbish liberal elites.”
Other users echoed similar sentiments, with one commenting, “No one in the audience laughs as Tom Hanks appears on SNL as a racist Trump supporter that refuses to shake hands with a black man.” Another user expressed their frustration, stating, “This makes me mad. SNL ran a skit tonight w/Tom Hanks as a MAGA racist…he literally recoils when a black game show host reaches to shake hands.”
The backlash highlights the ongoing cultural and political tensions surrounding portrayals of Trump supporters in media, particularly in comedy.
