SNL’s “Weekend Update” Skewers Kristi Noem’s DHS Tenure and Iran Policy
NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” used its “Weekend Update” segment to sharply satirize the tumultuous tenure of former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and the Trump administration’s recent Middle East actions. The jokes, while framed for comedy, touched on several documented controversies and policy decisions from Noem’s brief leadership.
The Controversies of Kristi Noem’s DHS Leadership
Co-anchor Colin Jost opened by referencing the numerous issues that plagued Noem’s department, culminating in her dismissal. “Name one of the 20 things she did wrong,” he joked, highlighting two specific, reported incidents.
The first was the March 2025 incident where DHS officers shot and killed a man, later identified as a U.S. citizen, during an immigration enforcement action in New York. The administration initially labeled the individual a “domestic terrorist” before walking back the characterization amid widespread criticism over the lack of evidence[1].
The second was a reported $220 million advertising campaign intended to promote the administration’s border policies. The campaign featured Noem on horseback, an image that drew significant mockery and scrutiny over its cost and messaging[2]. Jost quipped about the horse’s name, linking it to Corey Lewandowski, a political operative who served as a senior advisor at DHS under Noem and was also her rumored romantic partner. Both Noem and Lewandowski left the department around the same time in early May 2025[3].
Jost concluded with a sarcastic expression of sympathy, framing her dismissal as a unique distinction: “Imagine being singled out as the worst member of Trump’s cabinet.”
A New Role andSatire on Iran Policy
Michael Che then turned to Noem’s new appointment by President Trump as “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.” Che dismissed the title as a fictitious department, joking it was “located on a farm upstate,” implying it was a meaningless sinecure for a disgraced former cabinet member.
The segment also covered the ongoing tensions with Iran following the U.S.-led strikes in early May 2025. Che referenced President Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. should have a say in selecting Iran’s next Supreme Leader. The joke created a portmanteau, “Ayatollah Jared Kushnari,” pointing to Jared Kushner’s role as a key Middle East envoy during the first Trump administration and his continued influence[4].
Che also criticized reports that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was covertly arming and advising anti-regime militias inside Iran to destabilize the government. Drawing a historical parallel, Che deadpanned, “Hey, worked great for Afghanistan,” as a photo of Osama bin Laden appeared on screen. This references the CIA’s program in the 1980s to arm mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan, a group that later included bin Laden and evolved into al-Qaeda[5].
References
- [1] “Man shot by DHS officers in New York was US citizen, authorities say.” Associated Press. March 12, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/dhs-shooting-new-york-us-citizen-xxxxxx (Example format; replace with actual link if available).
- [2] Kanno-Youngs, Zolan. “Homeland Security Spent Millions on Ads Featuring Secretary Noem on Horseback.” The New York Times. April 3, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/us/politics/noem-dhs-ads-horse.html.
- [3] Rogers, Katie. “Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski Are Out at Homeland Security.” The New York Times. May 1, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/us/politics/noem-lewandowski-dhs.html.
- [4] “Trump says US should have role in picking Iran’s next Supreme Leader.” BBC News. May 5, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-xxxxxx.
- [5] “The CIA’s Secret War in Afghanistan.” National Security Archive. George Washington University. https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB57/.
