In 'SNL' cold open, Will Ferrell's Epstein visits 'best friend' Trump

Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY Sun, May 17, 2026 at 5:36 AM UTC

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"Saturday Night Live" is bidding Season 51 farewell with Will Ferrell as Jeffrey Epstein's ghost.

The sketch show's season finale on May 16 opened with a "Christmas Carol"-style sketch, in which President Donald Trump (played by James Austin Johnson) took a nap in the Oval Office and imagined himself being visited by a ghostly Epstein, played by host and former cast member Ferrell.

"Don't worry, Donald: It's me, your best friend, Jeffrey Epstein!" he said.

After the pair did some catching up, Ferrell's Epstein said he and Trump had "some fun times together." He then showed Trump a few visions of the future, starting with Kristi Noem (Ashley Padilla) at her new job: selling vacuum cleaners on HSN.

"It's the best way to clean up that mess your dog made, besides a gun," she said.

'SNL' joke swap: Colin Jost, Michael Che shock with new Weekend Update gags

Next up was a vision of Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) hosting a podcast with FBI Director Kash Patel (Aziz Ansari), while Patel was drinking from a giant beer bong. Epstein also informed Trump that six months in the future, the war in Iran is over, and "we came in second."

"Just remember, no matter how many wars you start, or how bad you tank the economy as a distraction, people will always associate you with me. And that, my dear, close friend, is a beautiful thing," Ferrell's Epstein said, leading them to launch into a performance of "Just the Two of Us."

The sketch marked a comeback for Johnson's impression of Trump, who, in an unusual move for the show, had not been featured in the last two "SNL" episodes. The May 9 cold open focused on Matt Damon as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who bonded at a bar with Jost's Hegseth and Ansari's Kash Patel. Ansari, in a surprise appearance, debuted his impression of the FBI director on the previous week's "SNL."

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James Austin Johnson as President Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live."

Ferrell hosted the "SNL" season finale with musical guest Paul McCartney. The "Anchorman" star began his monologue with a bit where Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers came out and pretended to be him, only for Ferrell to take over and act like he was totally thrown off.

McCartney ultimately joined Ferrell on stage, but extended the bit by acting like he still thought Ferrell was Smith. "I have a question: What do you think you're doing, Chad?" the Beatles legend asked from the audience.

Previously on 'SNL": Matt Damon's Brett Kavanaugh promises a third Trump term

When will 'SNL' return for Season 52?

The May 16 finale tied a bow on the 51st season of "SNL." Coming off a milestone anniversary season, and after a summer shakeup to its cast, the show this year brought in a mix of reliable, returning hosts like Ariana Grande and Melissa McCarthy and first-timers like Sabrina Carpenter and Finn Wolfhard.

Highlights from the season included Amy Poehler and Tina Fey reuniting to play Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem, respectively; Jack Black being inducted into the five-timers club; and Bowen Yang saying goodbye on his final show with a tearful, meta sketch about leaving a job.

'SNL' cold open: Aziz Ansari stars as 'incompetent' Kash Patel

But Season 51 may be remembered as the season of Ashley Padilla. In her second year on "SNL," Padilla racked up one memorable sketch after another, from one about a woman with a terrible haircut to another about an annoying coworker who keeps awkwardly butting in during lunch. The comedian, who has also played Karoline Leavitt on the show, is widely considered the breakout star among the show's recent additions, and in April, former "SNL" writer Robert Smigel praised her on X as "a miracle."

"SNL" will return for Season 52 in the fall.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'SNL' cold open – Will Ferrell's Jeffrey Epstein visits Trump

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