In a recent episode of “Saturday Night Live,” Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz was portrayed in a parody of his debate performance against Republican rival JD Vance. The debate, which took place on Tuesday, was reportedly won by Vance, according to Newsweek readers and writers. Some of the key moments of the debate were parodied in the skit, including Walz’s verbal gaffe when discussing school shootings and his perceived lack of preparation for certain questions. The skit included impersonations of Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, and President Joe Biden watching the debate unfold on television.
During the skit, Jim Gaffigan’s portrayal of Walz struggled to answer questions confidently, resorting to using the word “fundamental” repeatedly in response to a question about the crisis in the Middle East. When asked about abortion and reproductive rights, his response began strongly with a mention of Minnesota’s progressive stance on the issue but trailed off into a humorous discussion about his constituents’ lack of sex drive. The sketch garnered significant attention on social media, with a clip posted by SNL on X (formerly Twitter) receiving 182,000 views by Sunday morning.
Maya Rudolph’s portrayal of Harris was shown smashing her wineglass in response to Walz’s comment about being friends with school shooters, while Andy Samberg’s Emhoff expressed disappointment in Walz for giving “goofy white guys” a bad name. Even Dana Carvey’s Biden, who has faced his own debate struggles against Donald Trump, criticized Walz for his performance during the debate, urging him to “get your facts straight” and highlighting the importance of presenting achievements. The skit reflects SNL’s long history of parodying political figures, particularly focusing on Trump in previous seasons.
The spoofing of Walz in the SNL skit takes place in the broader context of the show’s satirical approach to political figures and events. Trump himself has been a frequent target of SNL’s comedic portrayals, with actor Alec Baldwin famously portraying the former president. In response, Trump has criticized the show’s portrayal of him as not funny or smart and criticized its ratings. The skit featuring Walz is a continuation of SNL’s tradition of lampooning political figures and events, providing a comedic take on the world of politics.
Overall, the SNL skit mocking Tim Walz’s debate performance against JD Vance highlights the show’s ability to satirize current political events and figures. By parodying Walz’s verbal missteps and lack of preparation, the skit offers a humorous take on a serious aspect of the political process. With its history of mocking political figures such as Trump, SNL continues to provide a platform for social commentary and entertainment. The portrayal of Walz, along with other political figures such as Harris and Biden, adds to the show’s legacy of political satire and humor.
