Saturday Night Live parodies Pete Hegseth in midterm election sketch

During the October 3, 2026, cold open of Saturday Night Live, comedian Colin Jost performed a parody of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The sketch featured Jost shotgunning a non-alcoholic beer and delivering a slam poetry segment that mocked Hegseth’s military leadership style and public persona.

In the skit, Jost’s version of Hegseth urged Republican voters to participate in the upcoming midterm elections, using provocative language regarding military priorities and masculinity. The performance also included impressions of other political figures, such as Marco Rubio, Mitch McConnell, JD Vance, and Donald Trump. The Trump character concluded the segment by offering a cash incentive to citizens if Republicans secure control of the House of Representatives.