In a sharp comedic turn, Colin Jost took aim at Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during the Cold Open of Saturday Night Live, delivering a biting portrayal that resonated with audiences.

Known primarily for his role on Weekend Update, Jost stepped into a different spotlight to embody a hyperactive and confrontational Hegseth, awkwardly downplaying accusations of his involvement in alleged war crimes against Venezuelan drug-trafficking vessels.

The sketch began with Jost’s Hegseth making a bold entrance at a press conference, set to the backdrop of energetic wrestling-theme music, before dramatically downing an energy drink and tossing the can aside.

“First things first, where’s the fatties?” Jost’s character demanded, addressing a room full of bewildered journalists during the Saturday night episode, which drew criticism from conservative viewers who labeled it a failure.

After making a disparaging comment about a reporter’s weight, Jost’s Hegseth quickly pivoted to discuss the air strikes he had sanctioned against Venezuelan drug-running ships in September.

‘Now listen up, as you’ve probably read in some gay newspaper, we’re now at war with Venezuela,’ he bizarrely began. 

‘Now, you got questions for me? Fine. Pretend I’m a random fishing boat and fire away.’ 

In response to being asked if he ordered a second airstrike to kill at least two survivors, he said: ‘That kind of cruel, heartless act has no place in Operation Kill Everybody.’

Colin Jost gave a scathing impression of the scandal-entrenched Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a Saturday Night Live Cold Open

Pete Hegseth has come under scrutiny following a second air strike on a Venezuelan drug boat that killed at least two survivors of the first strike 

‘Second, I wasn’t even in the room when it happened, okay?’ he continued in a combative tone. 

In a dig at Hegseth’s alleged drinking habits – as he was previously accused of being drunk on the job while working at Fox, the Secretary of War impersonator said: ‘I was so jacked up after the first strike, I had to make an emergency call to my sponsor.’

Hegseth has promised to give up alcohol as the defense secretary. 

A journalist played by cast member Ashley Padilla then asked Hegseth for a response to Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, claiming he acts like a ’12-year-old playing army.’

‘First of all, “Kelly,” that’s a girl’s name. What’s his first name, dress?’ Hegseth’s character said as he laughed. 

‘No, it’s Mark, like I said,’ Padilla responded, to which Jost’s Hegseth said: ‘Oh, get a husband.’

‘If I were just “playing army” would there be 80 dead fishermen – “narco terrorists” – in Venezuela right now?’ he said.

Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson (left) joined Jost’s Hegseth (right) at the podium

When asked if 80 was the official death toll, he replied:  ‘Let’s just say that if I had a drink for every Venezuelan we’ve killed, I’d really like that number of drinks.’

Jost’s macho Hegseth persona became particularly defensive when a reporter asked him about Donald Trump distancing himself amid the war crime allegations. 

Hegseth’s character assured the room that Trump has his back before praising the president.

‘Unlike you beta cucks, he’s a high-energy alpha who trusts me and listens to me no matter what. Isn’t that right, Mr President?’ he said as Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, slept in his chair. 

Hastily awaking from his slumber, Trump’s character approached the podium.

‘We love Pete,’ he said as he shoved Hegseth. ‘It was just fog of war, right? Fog of war, it’s a thing you only say after doing war crime.’ 

While discussing the strikes, which Admiral Frank Bradley carried out, Hegseth described the second one as being launched in the ‘fog of war.’  

Donald Trump (left) has stood by Hegseth (right) amid the war crime allegations

Trump has stood behind Hegseth’s handling of the vessel strikes through the accusations directed at the war secretary.

He said: ‘I still haven’t gotten a lot of information, because I rely on Pete, but to me, it was an attack. It wasn’t one strike, two strikes, three strikes.’

Trump added that he ‘didn’t know about the second strike’ and ‘didn’t know anything about people.’

‘I wasn’t involved in it,’ the president said. ‘I knew they took out a boat.’

Trump also said he heard the ‘gentleman that was in charge’ of the boat strikes was an ‘extraordinary person.’ 

The skit was praised by many – but conservatives slammed the jokes by saying that all they did was make Hegseth seem cool.

One person wrote: ‘The left always misses the mark. SNL thinks they’re making fun of Pete Hegseth but they’re just making him look cool.’

Another said: ‘This isn’t that funny,’ while a third added: ‘SNL is so bad right now.’ 

And a fourth wrote: ‘Straightforward literal imitation. My daughter’s middle school talent show had more compelling writing.’ 

‘SNL is getting worse they need better comedians that are actually funny,’ another commenter said. 

Some viewers attacked Jost specifically for his acting: ‘Sorry, but Colin Jost just isn’t funny in sketch comedy. SNL seems a little desperate putting him out front outside of Weekend Update. 

‘He’s just not suited for it. Maybe they owed Scarlett Johansson a favor.’

While another commenter simply wrote: ‘These writers and cast are such an insufferable bunch of lunatics.’ 

Other people loved the Hegseth impersonation, writing: ‘Colin is brilliant in this.’

Another added: ‘It was the funniest sketch ever. Brilliant. Well written whoever plays Trump is spot on.’