SNL Roasts Kash Patel Over His “Open Relationship” and FBI Bourbon

Saturday Night Live’s cold open on May 9 served up a sharp takedown of Kash Patel, the former FBI Director known for his fierce loyalty to Trump and his role in politicizing federal law enforcement. Aziz Ansari returned as Patel, delivering biting jokes that cut through the usual political theater to expose the weirdness and dysfunction of Patel’s public image.

The sketch, set in a Washington, D.C. bar, featured Colin Jost as Pete Hegseth and Matt Damon reprising his Brett Kavanaugh impersonation. Ansari’s Patel, eyes wide and lips puckered, joked about his personal life in a way that left no room for sympathy: “My girlfriend wants to open up our relationship,” he deadpanned, referencing his 27-year-old girlfriend Alexis Wilkins, who is nearly two decades younger. “She said she wants to bring other dudes in the bedroom and for me to stay in the living room.”

The humor wasn’t limited to Patel’s romantic life. Ansari also mocked Patel’s bizarre claim of making “my own FBI bourbon with my name on it,” highlighting the surreal vanity projects of a man who weaponized the federal government for political ends. “I bring my own alcohol to bars because sometimes they think I’m a kid with a fake ID,” Ansari quipped, ridiculing Patel’s infamous wide-eyed photo that became a meme.

The skit didn’t shy away from broader critiques either. Damon’s Kavanaugh lamented his sobriety test failure, while Jost’s Hegseth was mocked for excessive drinking. Together, they painted a picture of an administration more focused on petty grievances and personal struggles than serious governance.

Reactions to the cold open were mixed on social media, with some viewers tired of repeated jabs at conservative figures and others praising the sharp satire. But the message was clear: Patel’s public persona, marked by loyalty purges and politicization of the FBI, is ripe for ridicule.

Patel’s real-life relationship with Wilkins, a conservative activist he met at a ReAwaken America event, has drawn attention before. Patel has publicly defended Wilkins against criticism, calling attacks on her “disgustingly baseless” and “beyond pathetic.” But SNL’s portrayal makes it clear that Patel’s personal and professional life are both fair game for scrutiny when they intersect with his role in undermining democratic norms.

In a political landscape rife with corruption and authoritarian overreach, SNL’s take on Kash Patel cuts through the noise with irreverence and urgency. It reminds us that those who wield power with impunity often invite the sharpest satire—and deservedly so.