Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 10 hrs ago
SNL sketches Hegseth pitching a livestreamed execution to USS Lincoln crew
Saturday Night Live opened with Colin Jost playing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressing sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The sketch portrayed the crew returning after a long deployment and hearing about problems at home and aboard the ship.
Jost’s Hegseth said an execution planned for December would be streamed live and called public executions a return.
The Pentagon has confirmed plans to stream the execution of Nidal Hassan, who was sentenced to death for killing 13 people and injuring dozens more at Fort Hood.
The proposal has drawn criticism from lawmakers in both parties and the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The sketch also joked about the ship’s conditions, the administration’s preferred name for the Defense Department, and a measles outbreak.
The segment offered satire rather than an update on what will happen next.
Saturday Night Live featured Colin Jost as Pete Hegseth addressing returning USS Lincoln crew members in its October 10 episode.
The sketch portrayed Hegseth telling the crew that public executions would return, including a planned live broadcast in December.
It also joked that a man who survived a firing squad would have to fight Jake Paul.
James Austin Johnson appeared later as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to discuss a measles outbreak.
Deadline reported the ship had been at sea for 265 days without a port call and that reports described poor conditions and demoralized soldiers.
- Who
- Colin Jost portrayed Pete Hegseth, and James Austin Johnson portrayed RFK Jr. The sketch addressed returning USS Lincoln crew members.
- What
- Saturday Night Live broadcast sketches about Hegseth briefing the crew and RFK Jr. discussing a measles outbreak.
- When
- October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- The sketch presented Hegseth as updating returning crew members on events at home.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
As we get into the Christmas spirit, we’re going to execute a guy on live TV. Yeah, that’s right. Public executions are back.
In December, as we get into the Christmas spirit, we’re going to execute a guy in a wheelchair on live TV.
And if the guy somehow survives the firing squad, then he’s got to fight Jake Paul. So check that out.
It’s an American eagle with a Nazi vibe.
Saturday Night Live aired a sketch featuring Jost as Hegseth addressing returning USS Lincoln crew members.
Johnson appeared as RFK Jr. to give an update on a measles outbreak.
- Episode date
- October 10, 2026
- Ship
- USS Abraham Lincoln
- Time at sea
- 265 days without a port call, according to Deadline
- Hegseth portrayal
- Colin Jost
- RFK Jr. portrayal
- James Austin Johnson
- Planned execution month in the sketch
- December
Sources
SNL's Pete Hegseth mocks "dong-munchers" whining about live televised executions
‘Saturday Night Live’ Opens With An Overcompensating Pete Hegseth Pumping Up His Plans To Stream A Live Execution
‘SNL’: Pete Hegseth and RFK Jr. Tell Returning USS Lincoln Soldiers How Bad Things Are at Home: ‘Live Executions Are Back’
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