SNL' Cold Open Features Pete Hegseth's Outrageous Execution Skit

WHO:

Mashable - James Austin Johnson portrayed RFK Jr. in the skit.

Deadline - Donald Trump's secretary of defense was referenced in the skit.

Deadline - Pete Hegseth portrayed by Colin Jost.

Variety - The sketch featured sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

WHAT:

Deadline - The skit featured a satirical take on the extreme measures suggested for the morale of sailors, including a live execution before reuniting with their families.

Variety - The cold open included a humorous introduction to the ship’s returning crew, who were told they would have to undergo a live execution before reuniting with their families.

Deadline - The skit featured a humorous take on the extreme measures suggested for the morale of sailors, including a live execution before reuniting with their families.

Variety - The cold open included a humorous introduction to the ship’s returning crew, who were told they would have to undergo a live execution before reuniting with their families.

Deadline - The skit featured a humorous take on the extreme measures suggested for the morale of sailors, including a live execution before reuniting with their families.

Rolling Stone TV Movies - The Weekend Update segment included a joke about Trump "fuming about again losing the award he craves," referring to the Nobel Peace Prize.

Variety - The cold open included a humorous introduction to the ship’s returning crew, who were told they would have to undergo a live execution before reuniting with their families.

Deadline - The cold open included a skit about the USS Lincoln, which had been at sea for 265 days with no port call.

Variety - The sketch involved welcoming home sailors after nearly a year at sea and included a humorous take on their situation.

WHERE:

Variety - The cold open took place aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Deadline - The USS Lincoln was the setting for the skit.

Variety - The USS Abraham Lincoln was the ship referenced in the cold open.

WHEN:

Variety - The sketch aired on October 10.

WHY:

Salon - The skit aimed to satirize public executions and referenced Nazi imagery alongside Trump's complaints about the Nobel Peace Prize.

Deadline - The skit aimed to highlight the absurdity of the sailors' situation and the extreme measures suggested for their morale.

Deadline - The skit aimed to address the poor conditions and demoralization of sailors aboard the USS Lincoln.

HOW:

Variety - The cold open included an introduction to the crew that emphasized the absurdity of their situation after being at sea for nearly a year.

Deadline - The cold open featured an over-the-top performance by Pete Hegseth, emphasizing the absurdity of the situation.

(UPDATED October 11, 2026 19:00 UTC)

A new skit has sparked attention for its satirical take on the extreme measures suggested for boosting the morale of sailors, featuring a humorous cold open where the crew learns they must undergo a live execution before reuniting with their families. The skit not only pokes fun at public executions but also references Nazi imagery alongside Trump’s complaints about the Nobel Peace Prize. This absurd portrayal highlights the crew's bizarre situation after spending nearly a year at sea, emphasizing the ridiculousness of the proposed measures.

(UPDATED October 11, 2026 16:59 UTC)

A recent skit took a humorous approach to the extreme measures suggested for boosting sailor morale, featuring a live execution as a prelude to their reunion with families. The cold open introduced the ship's returning crew with the absurd premise that they would need to undergo this execution before seeing their loved ones. This satire aimed to poke fun at public executions while referencing Nazi imagery and incorporating Trump's grievances about the Nobel Peace Prize.

(UPDATED October 11, 2026 14:57 UTC)

In a recent skit aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, James Austin Johnson humorously portrayed RFK Jr. while highlighting the extreme measures suggested to boost sailors' morale, including a live execution before their reunion with families. The cold open introduced the crew, emphasizing the absurdity of their situation after being at sea for nearly a year. This comedic take aimed to shed light on the challenges faced by those serving in the Navy.

(UPDATED October 11, 2026 07:09 UTC)

In a recent segment of Rolling Stone TV Movies, the Weekend Update featured a joke about Trump, humorously suggesting he's "fuming about again losing the award he craves," which refers to the Nobel Peace Prize. The segment highlighted the ongoing conversation around Trump's aspirations for the prestigious award. This comedic take adds to the public discourse surrounding his past nominations and the significance of the prize.

(UPDATED October 11, 2026 05:58 UTC)

A recent skit referenced Donald Trump's secretary of defense, adding a political twist to its humor. The cold open featured a comedic introduction to a ship's returning crew, who were humorously told they would need to undergo a live execution before reuniting with their families. This skit aimed to underscore the absurdity of the sailors' situation and the extreme measures proposed to boost their morale.

(UPDATED October 11, 2026 05:02 UTC)

In a recent cold open sketch that aired on October 10, Pete Hegseth, portrayed by Colin Jost, humorously welcomed home sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln after they spent 265 days at sea without a port call. The skit, set aboard the USS Lincoln, aimed to highlight the poor conditions and demoralization faced by the sailors, featuring an over-the-top performance by Hegseth that emphasized the absurdity of their situation. This comedic take provided a lighthearted look at the challenges these service members endured during their lengthy deployment.