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Ferrell as Epstein Ghost Confronts Trump in SNL Finale

5/17/2026

27 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Will Ferrell portrayed the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein in the SNL season-51 finale open, confronting U.S. President Donald Trump on May 16, 2026.
The sketch ended with the two characters performing the song “Just the Two of Us.”
Will Ferrell also hosted the episode while Paul McCartney appeared as the musical guest.
The show included a Kristi Noem vacuum-cleaner sketch and a podcast segment with Kash Patel and Pete Hegseth.

History

Historical Context

Since Lorne Michaels launched Saturday Night Live on October 11 1975, early Gerald Ford impersonations—most famously by Chevy Chase during the 1976 campaign—set a template for biting political satire. Decades later, former cast member Will Ferrell returned in the 2026 season-51 finale to portray Jeffrey Epstein’s ghost confronting Donald Trump, continuing the show’s role in shaping discourse. The series has produced over 970 episodes.

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Story summary

Will Ferrell portrayed the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein in the SNL season-51 finale open, confronting U.S. President Donald Trump on May 16, 2026.
The sketch ended with the two characters performing the song “Just the Two of Us.”
Will Ferrell also hosted the episode while Paul McCartney appeared as the musical guest.
The show included a Kristi Noem vacuum-cleaner sketch and a podcast segment with Kash Patel and Pete Hegseth.

1 / 2