Trending Now - SNL' Cold Open Critiques Trump on Gas Prices and War

WHO:

President Donald Trump, portrayed by James Austin Johnson

Colin Jost as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

Ashley Padilla as the mother in the family

Marcello Hernández as the son in the family

Harry Styles as the host and musical guest of the episode

WHAT:

The Saturday Night Live cold open satirized President Trump over soaring gas prices amid the war in Iran.

Gas prices were depicted as costing $5 per gallon.

Trump humorously claimed, “We love to make promises because a promise is just a lie that hasn’t happened yet.”

Trump stated, “The stock market is going in one direction: down!”

Trump claimed gas prices are high due to the war with Iran.

Hegseth claimed, “The news is: We won. Hashtag winning.”

Hegseth stated, “the Strait of Hormuz is closed. It’s wide open.”

WHERE:

The skit took place at a gas station during a family road trip.

WHEN:

The SNL episode aired on Saturday, March 14th, 2026.

WHY:

The skit addressed the rising gas prices and the implications of the war in Iran.

HOW:

The cold open used satire and humor to critique President Trump’s handling of gas prices and the war in Iran.

(UPDATED March 15, 2026 23:03 UTC)

In the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, which aired last Saturday, President Trump, portrayed by James Austin Johnson, was humorously critiqued over soaring gas prices amid the ongoing war in Iran. The cold open featured a family road trip at a gas station, where Trump claimed gas prices were high due to the conflict, stating, “We love to make promises because a promise is just a lie that hasn’t happened yet,” while the price was depicted at five dollars per gallon. Colin Jost played Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who added to the satire by declaring, “The news is: We won. Hashtag winning,” despite the serious implications of the situation.