Tom Hanks has ignited a firestorm of criticism from Trump supporters following his portrayal of a MAGA supporter on the “Saturday Night Live” 50th anniversary special. Reprising his role as “Doug,” a character first introduced in a 2016 “Black Jeopardy” sketch, Hanks donned a red MAGA hat and hesitated to shake hands with Kenan Thompson’s character, Darnell Hayes. The sketch was intended as a satirical take on the intersection of conservative populism and African American culture, but it was met with backlash from Trump supporters who argued that the portrayal was a “tired” and “disgusting” stereotype. Washington Examiner+8mint+8The Root+8Btimes Online
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson criticized the sketch, stating that “SNL decided it was a good idea to depict Tom Hanks as a ‘Racist Trump Supporter’ in a MAGA Hat afraid to shake a black man’s hand. Donald Trump just won a landslide election and has never been more popular with Americans.” Former Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aide Link Lauren also weighed in on the sketch, claiming that Hanks’s character is why the show isn’t receiving higher ratings. GB News+2Btimes Online+2The Independent+2The Blast+2The Independent+2Btimes Online+2
The backlash extended to social media, with users accusing Hanks of engaging in political propaganda. One user stated, “Tom Hanks went full propaganda mode on SNL. Mocking Trump supporters as racist is lazy, pathetic, and exactly why Hollywood is collapsing.” Another critic dismissed the sketch as unfunny, commenting, “For a roast joke to be funny, there has to be an element of truth in it… this ain’t it.” Washington Examiner+3mint+3The Blast+3
The controversy also drew attention from media personalities. Megyn Kelly expressed disappointment, stating, “It was shocking to see somebody who tries so carefully not to be too divisive in his choices to come right out and suggest he thinks Trump supporters are racists.” Similarly, Meghan McCain criticized Hanks, saying, “Tom Hanks always wants to pretend he’s the likable everyman but he’s as hate mongering of regular Americans as any host on MSNBC.” Megyn Kelly+1The Blast+1Washington Examiner+1The Root+1
Despite the backlash, some defended the sketch. Co-hosts of “The View” discussed the controversy, with Sunny Hostin noting that Hanks first played the Doug role in 2016 and it was extremely popular at the time. She explained, “I think it’s a very subversive sketch. In fact, it’s about Black culture being American culture.” SmartSpender+4Btimes Online+4mint+4The Root
The incident underscores the ongoing partisan divide over media portrayals of Trump supporters, particularly as the former president remains a dominant figure in American politics. While “SNL” aimed to celebrate its five decades of cultural influence, the pushback from conservatives highlights the persistent challenges the show faces in maintaining its satirical edge in a deeply polarized political environment
