Dakota Johnson hosted Saturday Night Live for the second time this weekend, and she didn’t waste any time making headlines. In her opening monologue, she took a playful jab at Donald Trump while praising Taylor Swift as the “most powerful person in America.”
Johnson was reflecting on her first time hosting SNL in 2015, when she was in the audience for the show’s 40th anniversary special. A photo from that night appeared on screen, showing Johnson standing next to Sarah Palin, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg.
“And look who’s sitting right behind me,” Johnson said, as the camera zoomed in on Trump, who was then a candidate for president.
“Crazy to be standing so close to someone who would become the most powerful person in America,” Johnson quipped, before quickly adding, “but then again, I also had Taylor Swift right behind me.”
The camera then cut to Swift, who was also in the audience for the taping. The audience roared with laughter, and Swift gave a thumbs-up in approval.
Also Read: Timothée Chalamet Shines in Second SNL Hosting Stint
Johnson’s joke was clearly meant to be a dig at Trump, who is widely considered to be one of the most divisive figures in American politics. But it was also a way of acknowledging Swift’s immense popularity and influence. Swift is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and she has used her platform to speak out on a number of important issues, including LGBTQ rights and gun violence.
In addition to the Trump and Swift jokes, Johnson’s monologue also featured a reunion with her “The Social Network” co-star Justin Timberlake. The two appeared together in a scene from the 2010 film, and Johnson joked that Timberlake was lost when he came out on stage.
Timberlake later performed his 2013 hit “Mirrors” along with new tracks “Sanctified” and “Selfish.”
Johnson’s hosting stint was a success, and she proved that she can be just as funny as she is talented. She’s sure to be invited back to host SNL again soon.
