Cecily Strong makes SNL return as Jeanine Pirro alongside Colin Josts Pete Hegseth

Published: Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 2:54 pm

Cecily Strong Returns to SNL as Jeanine Pirro in Hilarious Trump-Era Skit

Former *Saturday Night Live* star Cecily Strong made a surprise comeback over the weekend, reprising her role as Fox News host Jeanine Pirro in a biting sketch alongside Colin Jost. The skit, part of the show's cold open, lampooned President Donald Trump's administration and current events.

The sketch centered around Trump (played by James Austin Johnson) appointing Pirro as the interim US Attorney for Washington, DC. Strong's Pirro, in a characteristically over-the-top performance, celebrated her inclusion in Trump's "incredible team," which she described with a humorous jab at the administration's controversies. The skit also featured Jost as Pete Hegseth, another figure often associated with Trump.

The sketch included a recurring gag where Strong's Pirro performed a spit-take, this time directed at Jost, adding to the comedic effect. The writers also took aim at Trump's trade policies and the UK.

The episode's Weekend Update segment, co-anchored by Jost and Michael Che, also featured jokes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Jost quipped about a new trade deal with the UK, sarcastically suggesting the British would only agree if the US kept the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

In a separate segment, Jost humorously attempted to sell his Staten Island ferry, a vessel he and fellow SNL star Pete Davidson purchased at auction in 2022.

The return of Strong and the sharp political satire provided a memorable episode for *SNL* viewers.

Keywords: Cecily Strong, SNL, Saturday Night Live, Jeanine Pirro, Colin Jost, Donald Trump, James Austin Johnson, Pete Hegseth, Weekend Update, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, political satire, comedy, NBC, Fox News, US Attorney, trade deal, Staten Island ferry

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