White House Files Lawsuit Against NBC Over ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cold Open Mocking Trump and Cabinet Officials
Washington, D.C. — The White House has filed a lawsuit against NBC Universal, alleging defamation and “intentional misrepresentation of government officials” following Saturday Night Live’s latest cold open — a sharp political sketch that mocked President Donald Trump, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
According to court documents filed late Sunday evening, the administration accuses NBC and the producers of Saturday Night Live of “knowingly broadcasting false and malicious portrayals of federal officials under the guise of comedy,” calling the performance “a deliberate effort to undermine public trust in the presidency and federal institutions.”
The Sketch That Sparked the Storm
The controversial cold open, which aired Saturday night, featured SNL cast members lampooning President Trump in a fictional Oval Office scene where he confuses FCC regulations with “freedom of speech permissions.” Actor James Austin Johnson reprised his role as Trump, while guest host Miles Teller played Pete Hegseth, portrayed as a fiery, militaristic advisor pushing for “patriotic media reform.”
At one point in the sketch, a fake press briefing shows the trio arguing over who should be “the face of truth” in American media — a segment that drew thunderous laughter from the live audience but reportedly infuriated White House officials.
White House Pushes Back
Press Secretary Caroline McEntee said in a statement Sunday morning that the administration “fully supports satire and free speech” but believes SNL crossed an ethical and legal boundary.
“This wasn’t parody; it was propaganda disguised as entertainment,” McEntee stated. “Portraying the President as mentally confused and his cabinet as power-hungry extremists is not humor — it’s harmful misinformation broadcast to millions.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks unspecified damages and a formal on-air apology from NBC. Legal sources say the complaint invokes defamation and misrepresentation statutes rarely used against entertainment programs, setting up what could become a landmark free speech case.
NBC Responds
In a brief statement, an NBC spokesperson defended Saturday Night Live’s right to creative expression:
“For nearly 50 years, SNL has used satire to reflect and critique political life. The show’s content is protected under the First Amendment. We stand firmly by our cast, writers, and the tradition of comedy as commentary.”
NBC insiders said privately that the network was “caught off guard” by the White House’s aggressive response, describing the sketch as “mild by SNL standards.”
Legal Experts Divided
Legal analysts quickly weighed in, with some calling the lawsuit “symbolic political theater” and others warning of “a dangerous precedent” if the administration were to prevail.
“This is about optics more than outcome,” said Professor Helen Straus of Georgetown Law. “Presidents have always been parodied — from Nixon to Obama. But suing a comedy show sends a chilling message to entertainers and journalists alike.”
A Clash Between Politics and Pop Culture
This is not the first time SNL has found itself in the political crosshairs. In recent years, the show’s depictions of public officials — particularly Donald Trump — have sparked social media storms and even direct responses from the former president himself.
Still, the lawsuit marks a new escalation in the long-running feud between political power and comedic critique.
“When the laughter stops, democracy is in trouble,” tweeted SNL cast member Colin Jost shortly after the news broke.
As the case moves forward, NBC’s legal team is expected to argue that the sketches fall squarely under the protection of free expression. But for now, the late-night laughter has turned into a legal battle — one that could redefine the boundary between satire and slander in modern American media.
