Saturday Night Live’s Tim Scott Impersonation Takes Aim at His Trump Endorsement

Weekend Update Segment Pokes Fun at Scott’s Controversial Decision

During the January 21, 2024 episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL), co-anchor Michael Che introduced a sketch featuring Devon Walker’s impersonation of Senator Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina. The sketch satirized Scott’s recent endorsement of former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, a move that surprised many given Scott’s previous criticism of Trump and his close relationship with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who is also running for president.

Mocking Scott’s Voice and Endorsement

The sketch began with Che mentioning Scott’s endorsement during the headline rundown, joking that “most Trump supporters only count him as three-fifths of an endorsement,” a reference to the infamous three-fifths compromise in the U.S. Constitution, which counted enslaved Black people as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation.

Later in the show, Che introduced Scott, whose “very unique” voice was ripe for commentary. Walker’s impersonation of Scott’s distinctive Southern drawl drew laughs from the audience. “My voice is like if Bill Clinton was actually Black,” Scott said. “I sound like the princess and the frog. I sound like if Forrest Gump was doing an impression of Ja Rule: ‘Where would I be without my baby.'” This comedic take on Scott’s voice highlighted his distinctive speaking style and added to the humor of the sketch.

Che then addressed the surprise surrounding Scott’s endorsement, to which Scott replied: “Because I’m Black? That’s very misguided. I don’t see color. I’m serious. When I looked at all the people at Trump’s rally, I did not see a single color.” Scott’s denial of racial considerations in his endorsement drew chuckles from the audience, as it played on the common criticism that Trump’s rhetoric and policies are racially divisive.

Scott’s Relationship with Nikki Haley and Trump’s Attacks

The sketch also touched on Scott’s relationship with Haley, who appointed him to the Senate in 2012. Scott claimed that they “will always be close friends,” but noted that Trump, who had attacked Haley by misspelling her birth name, instructed him to now call her “Nimrada Hussain Haley.” Haley was born Nimrata Randhawa Haley, and Trump’s deliberate misspelling of her name was widely seen as an attempt to portray her as a foreigner and undermine her credibility.

Scott’s willingness to go along with Trump’s attacks on Haley drew criticism from Che, who scolded him for using racist dog whistles. Scott, however, denied the accusations, claiming that he was not using racist language. To illustrate his point, he pulled out a dog whistle from his jacket pocket and blew it, causing co-anchor Colin Jost irritation. This comedic moment highlighted the absurdity of Scott’s denial and further emphasized the sketch’s satirical tone.

Scott’s Ambitions as Trump’s Running Mate

The sketch also addressed Scott’s potential role as Trump’s running mate in the 2024 election. Scott expressed his “honor” at the prospect of being considered for the position, until Che reminded him of the fate of Trump’s last vice president, Mike Pence. Che pointed out that Trump had incited a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Pence had refused to go along with Trump’s plan, and as a result, the mob had chanted “Hang Mike Pence” as they stormed the Capitol.

Scott’s shocked reaction to learning about this incident added to the comedic effect of the sketch. His disbelief at Trump’s actions and his apparent lack of concern for Pence’s safety further highlighted the absurdity of his willingness to align himself with Trump.

Conclusion: SNL’s Satirical Commentary on Scott’s Endorsement

The Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Devon Walker’s impersonation of Tim Scott was a humorous and effective satire of Scott’s endorsement of Donald Trump. The sketch poked fun at Scott’s unique voice, his denial of racial considerations in his endorsement, his strained relationship with Nikki Haley, his willingness to use racist dog whistles, and his ambitions as Trump’s running mate. Through humor and exaggeration, the sketch highlighted the absurdity of Scott’s actions and delivered a pointed critique of his political maneuvering.

Call to Action: What do you think of SNL’s portrayal of Tim Scott’s endorsement of Donald Trump? Share your thoughts in the comments below!