Trump Voters Bashed by Tom Hanks in Racist in SNL 50th Anniversary Skit [WATCH]

Actor Tom Hanks reprised his role as a Trump-supporting character in a sketch for Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special on Sunday.

The segment, which featured Hanks wearing a MAGA hat, drew criticism online after clips surfaced showing his character suggesting a separate game show for white contestants and appearing hesitant to shake a black man’s hand.

Tom Hanks just came out on SNL in a MAGA hat for a bit where he acted like he didn’t want to shake a black man’s hand.

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… pic.twitter.com/PlSc7gmiJ0

— Link Lauren (@itslinklauren) February 17, 2025

Dennis Quaid’s #1 Warning for Americans

The sketch was a continuation of the 2016 Black Jeopardy! skit, in which Hanks first portrayed “Doug,” a white Trump supporter who unexpectedly found common ground with black contestants on several issues, except when the topic of “lives that matter” came up.

The new version of the sketch aired during NBC’s primetime special celebrating SNL’s 50-year history.

Hosted by SNL veteran Kenan Thompson as Darnell, the game show sketch featured former cast members Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, and Eddie Murphy. Murphy, who was also impersonating Morgan during the segment, played alongside Hanks’ character.

During the sketch, Hanks’ character suggested creating a version of Black Jeopardy! called White Jeopardy!, inviting Thompson’s character to participate.

“No, we don’t need it. We don’t need it,” Thompson’s Darnell responded.

The bit also included a moment where Hanks’ character appeared visibly uncomfortable shaking hands with a black contestant, further reinforcing the portrayal of the character as a racial stereotype.

For its 50 year anniversary special, SNL had Tom Hanks play a racist Trump supporter afraid to shake a black man’s hand. Fun fact: Trump’s 2024 election win was the LEAST racially divisive American election since 1964. pic.twitter.com/0gdocaaktH

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 17, 2025

The clip quickly made its way online, receiving mixed reactions, with some social media users criticizing the show’s approach.

Hanks has previously weighed in on the 2024 election, stating in an interview with CNN that he was primarily concerned about the short-term effects of a Trump presidency.

“I think there’s always a reason to be worried about the short-term, but I look at the longer-term of what this — what happened. I think there is an ongoing — look, our Constitution says, we, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, that journey to a more perfect union has missteps in it,” Hanks said.

The SNL special was a major milestone for the show, bringing back numerous past cast members and high-profile guest stars.

However, Hanks’ portrayal of a stereotypical Trump supporter sparked discussion about Hollywood’s continued depiction of conservatives in a negative light.

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