Donald Trump and JD Vance were mercilessly ridiculed on Saturday Night Live (SNL) after their shocking meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday.
The US sketch show recreated the scene, depicting President Trump, President Zelensky, Vice-President Vance as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Mr Vance was satirised most aggressively in the SNL skit. Recreating the Vice-President’s intervention, where he called on the Ukrainian war leader to thank the United States, the actor playing the Vice President interrupted the actor playing Mr Zelensky by saying: “Excuse me? I’m sorry what?”.
In reference to the claims that the Oval Office meeting was an “ambush” by the US President and Vice-President on Mr Zelensky, the actor continued: “I’m going to jump in here, because that’s how we planned this – what happened to thank you? ‘k?”.
In another nod to the idea that Mr Trump and Mr Vance’s berating of Mr Zelensky was by design, the SNL performance saw Mr Trump’s character say to Mr Zelensky’s character: “I would like to welcome Mr Zelensky to this incredible trap.”
Mr Rubio was depicted by SNL as uncomfortable in an attempt to reflect the unease that the US Secretary of State appeared to show during the bitter Oval Office meeting.
During the sketch, Mr Rubio was asked to contribute to the row, but the actor playing him said, simply: “No ingles”.
Referencing the US journalist’s questioning of Mr Zelensky’s choice of attire in the Oval Office, Mr Trump’s character said: “Before we get started, I would like to thank President Zelensky for dressing like casual Star Trek.”
During the real life meeting, Brian Glenn, chief White House correspondent for conservative cable network Real America’s Voice, curtly asked the Ukrainian president: “Why don’t you wear a suit?
“You’re at the highest level in this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit.
“Do you own a suit? “A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of this office.”
In response to the question, commentators have repeatedly pointed out that President Trump’s appointee to the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Elon Musk never wears a suit in the White House.
Neither did Winston Churchill during the Second World War, who like Mr Zelensky wore battle fatigues.
