Tom Hanks Faces Major Backlash After ‘SNL’ Skit Mocking Trump Voters

Actor Tom Hanks is facing a fierce backlash from conservatives and supporters of former President Donald Trump following his controversial portrayal of a Trump supporter on the 50th anniversary episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL). Hanks, who is known for his roles in beloved films such as Forrest Gump and Castaway, reprised his role as Doug, a character he first introduced on SNL in 2016. The character, depicted as a stereotypical “white male Trump voter,” sparked significant outrage due to its portrayal as narrow-minded and racist. Read More Below

In the skit, Hanks’s character Doug is seen interacting in a game show segment titled Black Jeopardy. His character wears a “Make America Great Again” hat and an American Eagle shirt, signaling his support for Trump and reflecting a well-known stereotype of conservative white voters in the U.S. During the segment, Hanks’s character is shown hesitating to shake the hand of Kenan Thompson’s character, Darnell Hayes, who is Black. The awkwardness in the interaction was played for laughs, with Hanks’s character showing visible discomfort in the presence of Hayes’s character.

The segment was intended to humorously explore the differences and unexpected similarities between Trump voters and Black Americans. However, many viewers on social media immediately called out the skit for perpetuating negative stereotypes. Critics argued that the portrayal of Trump voters as inherently racist, ignorant, or unapproachable was a tired trope that ignored the diversity of opinions and beliefs among those who supported Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

One notable response came from Link Lauren, a former aide to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who expressed his frustration on the social media platform X. Lauren wrote, “This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter. Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting. SNL is an unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites.”

The backlash continued to grow throughout the day, with many conservatives and Trump supporters using the hashtag #BoycottSNL to express their disapproval. Some pointed out that the portrayal seemed to reduce the complex motivations behind Trump’s political support to a simplistic and offensive caricature. “This is exactly why so many people stopped watching SNL years ago,” one user tweeted. “They only know how to mock people who disagree with their views.”

Supporters of Hanks and the show, on the other hand, defended the skit as a piece of satirical comedy meant to poke fun at political polarization in America. They argued that SNL has always used humor to address divisive topics and that the sketch wasn’t meant to insult Trump supporters but to highlight how political and cultural divides can lead to awkward and surprising moments. “Comedy is supposed to push boundaries and make us reflect on our differences,” one user wrote in defense of Hanks’s performance.

Despite the polarized reactions, Hanks’s portrayal of Doug was widely discussed across both political aisles. The backlash to his performance isn’t new for SNL, which has long been a lightning rod for criticism from conservatives, especially during presidential election seasons. The show’s political sketches, particularly those involving former President Donald Trump and his supporters, have often ignited strong reactions from both sides of the aisle.

This particular skit, however, has struck a particularly nerve-racking chord with many who see it as a continuation of what they perceive as a pattern of SNL portraying Trump’s base in a negative light. Over the years, the show’s portrayal of Trump voters has often leaned into caricatures of ignorance, racism, and hostility toward diversity, which some argue further entrenches the divide between the political left and right in America.

Hanks, an actor who has built a career on playing the “everyman” and is generally well-regarded for his likability, now finds himself at the center of this debate, as many of his fans and critics alike have strong opinions on his involvement in such controversial content. In his defense, Hanks himself has not publicly commented on the backlash, and the actor’s political views have not typically been the subject of his public persona. However, with the ongoing tension in American politics, any celebrity — especially one as beloved as Hanks — who engages in politically charged content can expect to face scrutiny.

The controversy surrounding Hanks’s appearance on SNL serves as a reminder of the growing culture war in American entertainment, where even the most established stars and programs are not immune to fierce criticism. As political divisions continue to deepen, figures like Hanks will likely find themselves walking a fine line between entertaining their audience and appealing to political sensibilities that are often at odds with each other.

While Saturday Night Live has often prided itself on its role as a satirical commentary on political and social issues, the latest backlash suggests that the lines between comedy and offense can sometimes be blurred, leaving viewers on all sides of the political spectrum feeling alienated. Whether Hanks’s portrayal was intended as an attempt to create dialogue or as a simple attempt at humor remains up for debate, but one thing is clear: it has left a significant portion of the American public outraged.