Mike Myers Returns to SNL Stage as Elon Musk in Politically Charged Cold Open
Mike Myers, 61, shocked Saturday Night Live fans with a surprise appearance as Elon Musk during the show’s March 1 episode, hosted by Shane Gillis and featuring musical guest Tate McRae. The comedy legend slipped back into his SNL roots for a biting spoof of former President Donald Trump’s recent White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In the cold open, Myers joined James Austin Johnson’s Trump and Bowen Yang’s Vice President J.D. Vance, while Mikey Day played a flustered Zelenskyy. Dressed in Musk’s signature “Tech Support” T-shirt, jeans, and a black coat—and wielding a chainsaw—Myers leaned into the Tesla CEO’s eccentric persona. “Hi guys,” he stammered, prompting Johnson’s Trump to quip, “Elon, we love your outfit. Very official and respectful.”
The Skit’s Sharpest Jabs: Trump, Musk, and “DOGE” Department Drama
The sketch zeroed in on the absurdity of the fictional meeting, with Johnson’s Trump mocking Day’s Zelenskyy for showing up in casual attire: “Who shows up to the White House in a T-shirt and jeans like a garbage person?”
Myers’ Musk fired back with trademark chaos, joking, “What are you doing in my office? You know I’m the president now, right?” He later leaped into the air shouting, “Legalize comedy!”—a nod to Musk’s real-life speech at February’s Conservative Political Action Conference.
The bit also poked fun at Musk’s leadership of Trump’s fictional “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), where mass layoffs became a punchline. “They’re saying I’m firing people with no cause. But I do have cause—it’s ‘cause’ I feel like it,” Myers quipped. Johnson’s Trump eagerly agreed: “We love mass firings… like air traffic controllers. Non-essential!”
Myers Reflects on SNL Anxiety: “I Was Scared S—less”
The cameo marked a full-circle moment for Myers, who starred on SNL from 1989 to 1995. At December 2024’s Vulture Festival, he opened up about his early days alongside comedy greats like Phil Hartman and Dana Carvey. “When I got to SNL and saw how f—ing good these guys were, I had an anxiety attack,” he admitted. “The audience reaction felt like a jet taking off… I don’t know what happened, but they just went for it.”
Shane Gillis and Tate McRae Shine in Controversial Hosting Debut
The episode, hosted by polarizing comedian Shane Gillis—who was fired from SNL in 2019 before his first season—delivered sharp political satire alongside McRae’s moody musical performances. While Gillis faced backlash ahead of the show, the night ultimately spotlighted Myers’ nostalgic return and the cast’s relentless roasting of current events.
