Saturday Night Live (SNL) took aim at President Donald Trump following the Department of Justice’s release of newly published, but heavily redacted, files tied to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump signed The Epstein Files Transparency Act in November, paving the way for the documents to be made public. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
On Friday, the DOJ released four sets of records, though many details were blacked out—fueling fresh speculation about what the unredacted versions might contain.
During the show, comedian James Austin Johnson, impersonating Trump, joked that “we had to take it [his name] off so many files.”
He followed with: “Epstein. Redacted. We had so many Trumps in there we had to put them somewhere.”
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing connected to Epstein and has said their relationship ended in the early 2000s.
Why It Matters
The Epstein records have remained a recurring point of controversy for the Trump administration. The president publicly supported releasing the files on the campaign trail, but later appeared to soften his stance—drawing criticism and renewed demands for transparency.
The latest release has not ended the backlash. Some Democrats have called for the impeachment of DOJ officials, including U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, arguing the redactions undermine public accountability.
The DOJ, however, said the redactions were necessary to protect victims and minors and to avoid jeopardizing any ongoing investigations.
What To Know
In the segment, Johnson’s Trump character also riffed on unrelated political headlines, joking that the White House was renaming the Kennedy Center the “Trump Kennedy Center” as another place to stash redacted “Trump” names.
He then referenced the White House’s plans for a student sports event called “Patriot Games,” framed as part of the build-up to the United States’ 250th anniversary next year. Johnson quipped: “What’s the best way to distract from the Epstein files? I know, invite a bunch of teenagers to my house. That’ll help.”
He continued: “But with regard to files we’re being very transparent because Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible man and I didn’t know him and I liked him a lot so we released all the files and I come out looking frankly very good. We had to redact a few sensitive things but you’ll get the gist.”
What People Are Saying
A White House spokesperson previously defended the administration’s approach, calling it “the most transparent in history” and praising Bondi for carrying out the president’s promises. The statement also argued Democrats should press other political figures for answers.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, wrote on X on Friday: “Attorney General Pam Bondi is withholding specific documents that the law required her to release by today.”
The U.S. Department of Justice wrote on X on Saturday: “Photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information.”
What Happens Next
The DOJ has said additional files will be released in the coming weeks.
