Hollywood legend Tom Hanks is facing backlash after reprising his role as Doug, the MAGA-hat-wearing Trump supporter, during Saturday Night Live’s 50th-anniversary special. The character, first introduced in 2016’s Black Jeopardy sketch, was initially meant to highlight both the differences and surprising commonalities between Trump supporters and Black culture.

However, this time around, the reception was far from warm. Many Trump supporters felt the sketch took an unfair jab at them, reigniting tensions between conservative audiences and SNL. With Trump having gained a significant share of diverse voters in the 2024 election, critics argue that the stereotype is outdated and divisive.

The Scene That Ignited a Firestorm

The latest version of the sketch featured Hanks’ character, Doug, but with a notable difference—this time, he refused to shake hands with host Darnell Hayes, played by Kenan Thompson.

That single moment was enough to send social media into a frenzy. Outraged viewers slammed SNL and Hanks, claiming the portrayal was not only offensive but also lazy and out of touch with the political landscape.

Former RFK Jr. aide Link Lauren was one of the first to criticize the skit, calling it “disgusting” and accusing SNL of failing to evolve.

“This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter. Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting. SNL is an unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites.”

Right-wing influencer Dominick McGee also blasted Hanks directly, tweeting:

“Tom Hanks was just disrespecting every Republican on SNL as he was dressed up as a Trump supporter with a MAGA hat.”

One particularly frustrated viewer wrote:

“So not funny. Tom Hanks insulted me and 77 million other viewers.”

Another added:

“This trope of portraying the majority of the country as ‘racist’ is so annoying, old, and divisive. Glad I’m not watching this tonight.”

Some even noted that the audience inside SNL’s studio seemed unamused. One user observed:

“No one in the audience laughs as Tom Hanks appears on SNL as a racist Trump supporter that refuses to shake hands with a Black man.”

Trump Supporters Call Out ‘SNL’s’ Declining Viewership

Beyond frustration with Hanks’ portrayal, many Trump supporters used the controversy to highlight what they claim is SNL’s diminishing cultural relevance.

A pro-Trump account on X (formerly Twitter) wrote:

“Tom Hanks and SNL thought it would be hilarious for him to put on a MAGA hat and act out a stereotype of half the country in a desperate attempt to cope with Democrats’ crushing defeat in November. Not surprising no one watches SNL or NBC anymore.”

While conservatives were fuming, others found humor in the outrage, mocking Trump supporters for taking the sketch too seriously. Some users celebrated the bit, posting comments like:

“MAGAs are crying and losing their s**t over Tom Hanks in a hat. You love to see it.”

“SNL got exactly what they wanted. MAGA falling for the bait again.”

Still, the sketch was only one of SNL’s many political jabs throughout the night, as the show took repeated swipes at Trump and his supporters.

More Political Jabs Throughout the Night

The SNL 50 special didn’t stop at the Doug sketch. The three-and-a-half-hour event, packed with celebrity cameos, included multiple digs at Trump and his policies.

Steve Martin, who opened the show, wasted no time taking a jab at Trump’s recent renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”

“I can’t believe I made it here in time. It was only a few days ago that Lorne [Michaels] told me I was doing the monologue, and I was actually vacationing on a friend’s boat down in the Gulf of Steve Martin.”

Later, his Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short joined him for another politically charged joke.

Martin, pretending to check Short’s citizenship status, called out:

“Do you have your passport on you? ICE, get him!”

Actors dressed as ICE agents then dragged Short off the stage, as he frantically shouted:

“No! I’ll name names! Mike Myers! Jim Carrey!”

Another swipe at Trump came in the form of a musical parody of Les Misérables’ “I Dreamed a Dream,” referencing Trump’s departure from Manhattan.

“I dreamed a dream that King Kong died, then I remembered he’s in Florida.”

With such jokes woven throughout the night, it became clear that SNL wasn’t holding back in its political commentary.

Is ‘SNL’ Stuck in the Past?

While SNL has long been known for its political satire, critics argue that its depiction of Trump supporters as racist caricatures is both outdated and inaccurate. With Trump gaining ground among Latino and Black voters in the 2024 election, many conservatives feel SNL refuses to acknowledge shifting political realities.

Others believe the show has relied too heavily on the same political humor for years, making it predictable and uninspired.

“It’s the same Trump jokes over and over,” one user wrote. “They act like it’s still 2016.”

Final Thoughts

Love it or hate it, SNL has always thrived on controversy. While some viewers saw Tom Hanks’ return as Doug as a lighthearted joke, many Trump supporters viewed it as another example of Hollywood’s bias against conservatives.

With declining ratings and growing criticism, the question remains—has SNL lost its comedic edge by recycling the same political tropes, or is it still the cultural powerhouse it once was?

Regardless of the answer, one thing is certain—Hanks’ sketch has reignited the ever-present feud between SNL and conservative America.