Saturday Night Live’s Halloween-themed cold open features Tom Hanks returning as his lounge character David S. Pumpkins. Multiple outlets say the sketch is quickly hijacked by a separate Donald Trump appearance (played by James Austin Johnson), turning the segment into a comedy moment that riffs on Trump’s recent public comments and political fixation.
Variety and Deadline describe the sketch as parodying Trump’s campaign-style remarks, including references to men’s physiques and stump behavior, while Deadline adds that Trump urges viewers to prevent a likely midterm setback. Rolling Stone and Consequence emphasize how Trump’s interruption derails Pumpkins’ return, framing the moment as an abrupt crash into the Halloween comeback rather than a seamless continuation.
In addition to Pumpkins and Trump, Variety reports that the cold open also includes Nicki Minaj portrayed by Saidah Belo-Osagie, further broadening the segment’s celebrity parodies around the Halloween setting. Across the coverage, outlets converge on the core sequence: Hanks returns as Pumpkins, and Trump’s character interrupts, shifting the focus away from the original bit.
