Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 1 day ago
SNL Mocks Hegseth and Conditions on Returning USS Abraham Lincoln
Saturday Night Live opened its Oct.
10 episode with Colin Jost playing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In the sketch, he welcomed sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier that had returned to San Diego after nearly a year at sea.
The ship had supported the U.S. war with Iran, and reports described broken plumbing, supply shortages and mental-health struggles among the crew.
The sketch joked about those conditions, including the reported suicide attempts and the ship’s broken toilets.
It also mocked President Donald Trump’s comments that Iran could strike U.S. cities, having Jost’s Hegseth say the president had asked Iran to blow up San Diego.
The sketch used humor to draw attention to the strain of the deployment and the political debate around the war.
Shane Gillis hosted the episode, and Inde Navarrette is set to host a special Halloween episode next.
Saturday Night Live mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth while welcoming home the USS Abraham Lincoln’s crew in a cold-open sketch.
The sketch joked about reported plumbing problems and mental-health struggles during the carrier’s extended deployment.
The ship returned to San Diego after a deployment reported as either 321 or 322 days.
The sketch also included jokes about the Trump administration and a character played by James Austin Johnson as RFK Jr.
Shane Gillis hosted the Oct. 10 episode.
- Who
- Saturday Night Live, with Colin Jost portraying Pete Hegseth, and the USS Abraham Lincoln’s crew.
- What
- A cold-open sketch mocked Hegseth and conditions aboard the carrier during its deployment.
- When
- The sketch aired Oct. 10, 2026. The articles were published Oct. 11.
- Where
- The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego.
- Why
- The sketch used reports of plumbing problems and mental-health struggles during the ship’s extended deployment as material for comedy.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
After seven months of war, you’re back home safe in sunny San Diego, which the president just asked Iran to blow up. I couldn’t be more proud of you
Only eight of you attempted suicide. Two of you since I started talking
It’s an American eagle with a Nazi vibe, okay?
Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego
The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego; the articles give different deployment lengths.
Saturday Night Live aired the cold-open sketch welcoming the carrier’s crew.
The Hollywood Reporter and Variety published articles about the sketch.
- Carrier
- USS Abraham Lincoln
- Return location
- San Diego
- Deployment length
- 321 days, according to Hollywood Reporter; 322 days, according to Variety
- Combat missions
- More than 3,000, according to the sketch
- Reported suicide attempts
- Eight among the crew, according to Variety
- Episode host
- Shane Gillis
Sources
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