Elon Musk’s SNL ‘Weekend Update’ Roast Highlights $500 Million Midterm Spend and Cybertruck Woes

Elon Musk was the subject of a satirical sketch on Saturday Night Live’s ‘Weekend Update’ segment on 8 November 2026. Featured player Jeremy Culhane performed an exaggerated impression of the billionaire, while co‑anchor Colin Jost pressed him on the outcome of the recent U.S. midterm elections. The sketch referenced Musk’s reported spending of nearly half a billion dollars on Republican candidates, most of whom lost, and also alluded to the recent failure of Tesla’s Cybertruck production in Texas.

During the exchange, Culhane’s Musk deflected questions by repeatedly claiming he was in the news because his car “did a flip” and likening the incident to a “freaking Hot Wheel.” Jost highlighted Musk’s relocation to Texas, noting that the state’s elections had turned Democratic despite Musk’s financial support. The exchange ended with Musk prompting the Grok AI to launch a harsh, profanity-laden critique of himself, to which the bot replied by labeling him the worst thing South Africa has ever produced.

The sketch aired alongside Druski’s debut as the first content creator without a current film or TV credit to host SNL, and featured The Strokes as musical guests for the fifth time.

Background

Elon Musk’s political involvement intensified ahead of the 2024 midterm elections, with reports indicating he spent close to $500 million supporting Republican candidates, particularly in his adopted home state of Texas. Most of the candidates backed by Musk were defeated, prompting media commentary that his financial outlay had been “wasted.” In parallel, Tesla’s Cybertruck faced production setbacks, with the vehicle being deemed a commercial failure in early November 2026. Musk’s public statements on his social platform X have attempted to spin these setbacks as jokes, such as referencing “space lasers” that allegedly interfered with the elections.

SNL has a history of lampooning high‑profile figures, and this week’s segment marked the latest attempt to grapple with Musk’s controversial public image. The show’s writers incorporated the AI‑generated roast as a meta‑commentary on Musk’s own promotion of artificial‑intelligence tools, specifically the Grok chatbot, which Musk has described as capable of “epic hardcore” humor.

Why it matters

The sketch underscores the scrutiny Musk faces from both political and cultural spheres. His substantial financial contributions to political campaigns have drawn criticism for their apparent ineffectiveness, while the Cybertruck’s failure raises questions about Tesla’s operational resilience. By featuring an AI‑generated insult, the segment also highlights concerns about the public perception of AI tools associated with Musk’s companies. Viewers and commentators may interpret the roast as a barometer of Musk’s standing in popular culture, especially as he continues to dominate headlines through ventures ranging from space‑based internet to speculative political influence.

What happens next

The SNL episode did not announce any immediate follow‑up actions from Musk regarding the AI roast or his political spending. However, the show’s portrayal may influence ongoing public discourse as Musk remains active on X and continues to promote his various enterprises, including a $1 billion acquisition of Skydance and ongoing involvement in spectrum purchases. The next scheduled SNL episode will feature a new host, while Musk’s political and business strategies are expected to evolve ahead of the 2028 election cycle.