Saturday Night Live took it out on the Republican senator from Texas Ted Cruz for crawling before Donald Trumptelling him “hit me, choke me, spit in my mouth” during the sketch.
Kate McKinnon, who plays host Laura Ingraham, noted that Cruz’s beard “is still going strong.”
The senator, played by Aidy Bryant, noted that his beard was like the January 6 insurrection: “shocking at first, but unfortunately it has normalized.”
The fictional Ingraham then commented on Cruz’s recent appearance on Tucker Carlson Tonight, during which he apologized for calling the Capitol rioters terrorists.
On Jan. 5, Cruz called the riots “a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol,” drawing sharp criticism from conservative pundits who sought to downplay the insurrection.
“Of all the things that were on January 6, it was definitely not a violent terrorist attack,” Carlson said. “It was not an insurrection. Was it a riot? Sure, but it wasn’t a violent terrorist attack, sorry!”
Cruz retracted her earlier comments, saying her choice of words had been “sloppy” and “foolish.”
Posing as Cruz on Saturday night, Bryant ridiculed the senator for backing down.
“I should never have called them terrorists,” he said as he imitated Cruz. “The truth is that they are big, burly men with great energy. I like them very much. They are my cool friends.”
“Donald, if you’re watching us, I love you, honey. You are the king. Seriously, hit me,” he added.
McKinnon playing Ingraham asked if Cruz really wanted the former president to punch him.
“Oh I do not know. Hit me, drown me, spit in my face,” Cruz said in the sketch. “I just want to stay in the groove.”
“I would like to remind all of my fellow Texans who are watching us at home that February is going to be very cold, so you may want to book your Cancun vacation now,” Bryant said. “Live longer, everyone.”
Cruz was heavily criticized for flying to Cancun in February of last year, when his home state was hit by frigid temperatures that left many Texans without power.
Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, also appeared in the opening of SNL.
“It’s wonderful to be here,” he exclaimed. “I’m back as Tiger King 2. You’re having fun the first time, and now you’re like, ‘How come there aren’t more people who were involved in this in jail yet?'”
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