SNL Joke Links Trump Theater Visit to Lincoln Assassination

A recent episode of Saturday Night Live drew sharp criticism after host Michael Che made a joke referencing the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in connection with President Donald Trump's attendance at a theater performance. The remark, aired during the show's Weekend Update segment, prompted loud laughter and applause from the studio audience.

On March 31, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the opening night of the musical Chicago at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where they received mostly cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd, according to the Associated Press. During the broadcast, Che commented, "President Trump attended the opening night of Chicago at the Kennedy Center, and I think that's cool that the president is going to the theater. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" The line alluded to Lincoln's 1865 assassination by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre in Washington.

The joke quickly sparked backlash on social media, with viewers expressing outrage over its insensitivity, particularly in light of Trump's history of surviving assassination attempts. Several users on X, formerly...