Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost left the studio audience in an awkward silence after delivering a dark joke about former President Donald Trump and Argentina’s controversial leader Javier Milei.
The comedian’s quip touched on Trump’s recent decision to send over $40 billion to support Argentina’s struggling economy.
Jost joked that Trump sent the money “because, if history is any guide, a lot of Trump officials will end up fleeing to Argentina,” referencing the post-World War II exodus of Nazi officials to South America.
While the joke drew gasps and some confused looks, the crowd barely reacted.
One lone clap prompted Jost to quip, “Hey, one clap!” bringing laughter and breaking the tension.
The White House Backs Argentina Ahead of Midterms
Trump announced the financial support earlier this week after meeting with Milei at the White House.
The loan, which involves exchanging U.S. dollars for Argentine pesos, is intended to stabilize Argentina’s economy.
Observers note it may also give Milei’s party a boost ahead of the country’s October 26 legislative midterm elections, helping solidify his agenda to cut government spending and encourage private-sector growth.
However, the political impact remains uncertain.
Argentine lawmakers are working to curb the president’s decree powers, and public dissent over Milei’s austerity measures is growing, leaving questions about whether the U.S. support will truly sway voter sentiment.
Jost Takes Aim at George Santos’ Early Prison Release
Jost didn’t stop with Trump and Argentina. He also targeted Trump’s recent decision to release former Republican congressman George Santos after only three months of a seven-year sentence.
Santos pled guilty to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, deceiving donors and stealing identities to fund his campaign.
Jost quipped, “George Santos, the former Republican congressman who pled guilty to fraud and something called aggravated identity theft… is now free and will face zero consequences.”
He compared Santos’ repeated lies to an extraordinary baseball performance, joking that only Shohei Ohtani had ever matched Santos’ “feat” of bending reality.
Trump Defends Santos’ Commutation
Trump publicly justified his commutation, claiming Santos had been “horribly mistreated” in solitary confinement and wishing him a “great life.”
Despite Santos’ crimes and controversial history, some political allies, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, argued that his sentence was too harsh.
Santos’ time in Congress was marked by a string of fabricated personal stories.
He falsely claimed his mother died in 9/11, exaggerated his Jewish heritage, and even denied, then admitted, performing as a drag queen in Rio de Janeiro to raise campaign funds.
Ultimately, a House ethics report led to his ouster, making him one of only six members in history expelled by colleagues.
Jost’s Comedy Highlights the Strange Political Climate
Through dark humor and biting commentary, Jost’s Weekend Update segments underscored the unusual state of U.S. politics, blending global economic decisions, midterm election strategies, and outrageous scandals into one sharp comedic critique.
While some jokes left audiences puzzled, they reflected the complicated and sometimes absurd realities of recent political events.