David S. Pumpkins Returns to SNL While Trump Hijacks the Halloween Sketch
Tom Hanks’ pumpkin‑costumed character reappears on a Halloween‑themed SNL cold open, only to be upstaged by James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump.
David S. Pumpkins made a Halloween comeback on Saturday Night Live’s October 31 episode. Tom Hanks returned in the pumpkin‑suit, joined by Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan as dancing skeleton sidekicks.
The cold open began with two riders boarding a haunted attraction led by Kenan Thompson. When Hanks appeared, the riders asked why the pumpkin character was on the ride. Before Hanks could answer, James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump cut in with a single word: “Midterms.”
Trump then quipped, Aw, are you sad you don’t get to see your third David Pumpkins scene? I’ll save you four minutes: he keeps popping up and confusing people on the ride. The end.
With the other performers frozen, Trump compared himself to Pumpkins, saying, “We both appeared in 2016, we’re both very loud, very orange, and very, frankly, annoying!” He followed with a praise of Hanks’ acting and added, “Great ass! A great ass on Hanks.” (The line echoes Trump’s recent campaign remarks about Ohio Republican Sen. Jon Husted’s physique.)
Holding up a bruised hand, Trump likened its color to Texas turning purple and declared that if the state went blue, he would abandon it. Kenan Thompson then walked offstage; when Trump thanked him for a supposed donation, Thompson replied, “Yeah, you wish, bitch.”
Saidah Belo‑Osagie appeared as “Nicki Minaj,” introduced by Trump as a prospective press secretary. She said, “I’m out here killing it,” and added, “And by it, I mean my career.”
Veronika Slowikowska followed as Katie Zacharia, who botched the show’s opening line, leaving Hanks and his skeletons to deliver the traditional “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”
The episode was hosted by “Obsession” star Inde Navarrette with musical guest Gracie Abrams.
