- “Saturday Night Live” targeted Portland in its Season 51 premiere cold open.
- The sketch featured Colin Jost calling Portland “one of the bloodiest, war-torn places on the face of the Earth.”
- The joke satirizes the Trump administration’s recent rhetoric and characterization of the Oregon city.
- This follows similar jabs from other late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers.
SNL Season Premiere Takes Aim at Portland
“Saturday Night Live” kicked off its 51st season this weekend with a cold open that took a direct shot at Portland, Oregon. In a skit parodying President Donald Trump’s address to senior military leaders, the show labeled the city as a hotbed of conflict, reigniting a nationwide conversation.
Parodying Political Rhetoric
The sketch featured “Weekend Update” co-host Colin Jost in a rare appearance as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Berating a group of “fat generals,” Jost’s character declared a new training location for the U.S. Army.
“We will be doing it in one of the bloodiest, war-torn places on the face of the Earth: Portland, Oregon,” Jost bellowed in character. The line is a satirical jab at the Trump administration’s repeated attempts to characterize Portland as a city ravaged by chaos amidst ongoing protests.
A Running Late-Night Gag
This isn’t the first time late-night comedy has seized on the political rhetoric surrounding Portland. Talk show hosts Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and Jon Stewart have all recently poked fun at the “war-ravaged” narrative, contrasting it with the city’s reputation for coffee shops and kombucha.
Portlanders themselves have actively worked to counter the portrayal, sharing images and videos online of a peaceful, bustling Pacific Northwestern city. While the “SNL” mention was brief, it confirms the city’s place in the current political spotlight, leaving many to wonder how long this controversial characterization will last.
