Updated Dec. 21, 2025, 12:41 a.m. ET
“Saturday Night Live” is closing out 2025 with a holiday message from President Donald Trump.
The cold open of the final “SNL” episode of the year featured James Austin Johnson as Trump delivering a special holiday-themed speech in the White House. In the address, he defended his move to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the Trump-Kennedy Center.
“We are renaming the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which will now be called the ‘Trump-Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, No Homo,’ ” he said.
Johnson as Trump then revealed he would also be renaming other national monuments after himself, including the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
“People are saying, ‘Sir, why are you putting your name on so many buildings?’ And I say it’s because we had to take it off of so many files,” Johnson’s Trump said, referencing the release of new documents about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which contain many redactions.
The cold open also referenced Trump’s announcement that he will create an event for high school athletes called the Patriot Games, described as a competition consisting of “one young man and one young woman from each state and territory.”
“I’m inventing my own Hunger Games,” Johnson’s Trump said. “That’s right: The White House will be hosting the Patriot Games for high school athletes to compete, because I thought, what’s the best way to distract from the Epstein files? I know: Invite a bunch of teenagers to my house. That’ll help.”
“They’re saying, sir, you’re doing Hunger Games and you know how that book ends, and of course, I don’t, because book,” he added. “I don’t like to read, and frankly, might not be able to anymore.”
Johnson’s Trump also maintained he is being “very transparent” with the Epstein files. “Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible man, and I didn’t know him, and I liked him a lot,” he said.
Ariana Grande hosted the Dec. 20 episode of “SNL” with musical guest Cher. This was Grande’s third stint as “SNL” host, and Cher’s first time as the show’s musical guest since 1987.
The episode was also the final one for longtime cast member Bowen Yang, who confirmed he is leaving “SNL” after the Christmas show.
Last week’s “SNL” began with a cold open where Trump riffed on various topics aboard Air Force One, including the release of new photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate. “The fact is, these photos are a fake news, Democrat hoax,” Johnson said as Trump, only for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt (played by Ashley Padilla) to frantically step in after he changed his tune and admitted, “I’m in the files. I took a lot of great pictures!”
Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, Sabrina Carpenter, Miles Teller, Nikki Glaser, Glen Powell, Melissa McCarthy and Josh O’Connor have served as hosts so far in Season 51 of “SNL,” which kicked off in October following a cast shake-up over the summer.
“SNL” added five new cast members for its new season: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska.
So far, Padilla has been considered the breakout star of Season 51. The comedian, who joined the show in 2024, has not only spoofed Leavitt, but also had key roles in several other popular sketches, including one where she played a woman insisting she’s happy with a terrible haircut.
When will ‘SNL’ return in 2026?
“SNL” will return on Jan. 17 with host Finn Wolfhard and musical guest A$AP Rocky.
