SNL cast member James Austin Johnson gave his Trump impression to explain the tariffs that began the same day the episode aired. Every tariff against all 86 countries will begin on Apr. 9, as the first round was the baseline tariff of 10%.
“They mean we’re going to make America wealthy again. MAWA! MAWA,” Johnson said. “We’re doing MAWA! But before that, we’re going to do MAGDA. MAGDA. Make America Great Depression again. You know what? It’ll be great; it’ll be better than great. It’ll be a fantastic, unbelievable depression, the likes of which you’ve never seen before.”
Johnson joked that South Africa was one of the countries “ripping us off” as it has a 60% tariff against U.S. goods. “They’ve never sent us one good thing,” the actor said, prompting the appearance of comedian Mike Meyers impersonating South African Elon Musk.
“Elon is great, but, sadly, it’s time to never see you again, OK?” Johnson told Meyers. “You got to get back to Tesla, right? Because they’re doing pretty bad.”
JOHN KENNEDY COMPARES TARIFFS TO WHISKEY AND BETS ‘EVERY FOREIGN TRADE REP’ WILL NEGOTIATE
The reference was to the series of crimes committed against Tesla cars and dealerships in recent weeks. In the U.S., vandals who perpetrated attacks on Tesla vehicles, which have included keying and lighting them ablaze with Molotov cocktails, are facing federal and hate crime charges.
Tesla is increasingly under attack ever since Musk endorsed Trump and became his senior advisor. Musk has become the face of the Department of Government Efficiency which has directed cuts to federal spending.