MAGA supporters criticize Tom Hanks' return as Trump fan on ‘SNL50’

Conservatives backlash at Tom Hanks' return as a MAGA-supporting character on SNL’s 50th anniversary special.
Pop Culture & Art | February 17, 2025

Conservative viewers expressed outrage after actor Tom Hanks reprised his character as a Trump-supporting conservative on the Saturday Night Live (SNL) 50th anniversary special. The controversial character, Doug, first appeared in 2016 during an episode of the sketch Black Jeopardy!. In the sketch, Doug, wearing a Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat and an American Eagle shirt, initially refuses to shake hands with Kenan Thompson's character, Darnell Hayes, before reluctantly agreeing. The scene, intended as humor, sparked strong reactions from Trump supporters on social media.

— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) February 17, 2025

The sketch sparked immediate backlash, with right-wing commentators like Benny Johnson and Clay Travis accusing it of being "tone deaf" for inaccurately depicting Trump supporters as racist, especially given his growing popularity among minority voters. Mario Nawfal, another conservative figure, called the portrayal of Trump’s fan base as "racist caricatures" outdated.

— texanconstitutionalist (@texanconstitut1) February 17, 2025

In the February 16, 2025 sketch, Doug once again refused to shake Hayes' hand and suggested creating a "White Jeopardy" show, a line that ignited a wave of backlash. Many conservatives took to social media to express their frustration, accusing SNL of insulting a significant portion of its audience.

— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) February 17, 2025

One former aide to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Link Lauren, expressed frustration, claiming that the portrayal of MAGA supporters as racists was "disgusting" and further alienated viewers who had supported the Republican Party. He also criticized the show’s low ratings, attributing them to its liberal biases.

The controversy surrounding the sketch also sparked a broader discussion about political humor and its role in the growing cultural divide, underscoring the increasing polarization in entertainment and public discourse.

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