Dakota Johnson used Taylor Swift to take a swipe at Donald Trump in her SNL monologue on 27 January 2024. Showing a 2015 photo with Trump seated near her, she joked about standing close to “someone who would become the most powerful person in America”, and the camera revealed she meant Swift, not Trump.
The moment came during Johnson’s second turn as host of Saturday Night Live, nearly a decade after her first. Entertainment outlets, including The Daily Beast and HollywoodLife, described it as a dig at Trump. Here is what happened, what else the episode included, and why the line got so much attention.
Quick facts: Dakota Johnson’s SNL episode
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Air date | 27 January 2024 |
| Host | Dakota Johnson (second time; first in 2015) |
| Musical guest | Justin Timberlake |
| Film she promoted | Madame Web, released in cinemas on 14 February 2024 |
| Cameos | Jimmy Fallon, Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban |
| Viral moment | Taylor Swift and Donald Trump photo joke |
The Taylor Swift joke that took a swipe at Trump
Johnson began by recalling her first time hosting, which came soon after SNL’s 40th anniversary special in 2015. She had attended that special as an audience member, and the show put up a photo of the crowd from that night.
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In the photo, Johnson was seated near Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Sarah Palin and Donald Trump. She then said it was crazy to have stood so close to someone who would become the most powerful person in America. Since Trump later became US president, the audience expected the line to land on him.
Instead, the camera moved to Taylor Swift, who was sitting just in front of Johnson in the same photo. The studio audience cheered. The joke never named Trump directly, but by passing over a former president to crown a pop star as the most powerful person in the country, it was widely read as a pointed jab at him.
Why the line got so much attention
In early 2024, Swift was one of the most discussed public figures in the United States, and her fame was the whole point of the gag. Johnson’s line played on that in a single sentence, without ever naming Trump as the target, which let viewers draw the conclusion themselves.
It also worked as comedy because of the set-up. The photo, the pause and the camera reveal led viewers in one direction before switching to another, a classic SNL move.
Key moments from the monologue
- Johnson recalls her first time hosting, soon after the 40th anniversary special in 2015.
- She jokes that she cannot take press interviews seriously.
- A 1990s red carpet clip with her father, Don Johnson, plays, and she repeats her eye-roll.
- The 2015 audience photo appears, showing her near Trump, Spielberg, Lucas and Palin.
- The punchline lands on Taylor Swift, seated in front of her.
- She plugs Madame Web, and Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon join the fun.
Other highlights from Dakota Johnson’s monologue
Her joke about interviews
In the monologue she also joked that she simply cannot take interviews seriously. She said journalists write down what she says even though she is usually kidding, and admitted she is just not good at talking to them.
A childhood eye-roll
The show played a 1990s red carpet clip of a young Johnson with her father, actor Don Johnson, in which she rolls her eyes. She repeated the same eye-roll on stage, to laughs from the audience.
Madame Web plug
Johnson promoted her Marvel film Madame Web, which opened in cinemas on 14 February 2024. She described it as “kind of like if AI generated your boyfriend’s perfect movie”, a self-aware line that many viewers enjoyed.
Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon join in
Justin Timberlake, the night’s musical guest and Johnson’s co-star from The Social Network, interrupted her introduction. He pointed out that he had hosted the show five times before and suggested he could join her in sketches.
Johnson replied that his last turn was ten years ago and teased him about his “comeback”, which led to playful back and forth. Timberlake later performed his new songs “Selfish” and “Sanctified”.
Jimmy Fallon also appeared during the monologue dressed as Barry Gibb. Later in the night, Fallon and Timberlake, as Robin Gibb, brought back their old sketch The Barry Gibb Talk Show. Shark Tank stars Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuban also made appearances during the episode.
Where to watch the monologue
NBC has posted Johnson’s monologue and sketches from the 27 January 2024 episode on its official website. Availability in India may vary, so check the official channels rather than unofficial uploads.
For more stories like this, see our Buzz section, entertainment news and People stories.
Frequently asked questions
What did Dakota Johnson say about Taylor Swift on SNL?
Showing a 2015 photo, she joked about standing close to someone who would become the most powerful person in America. The camera then revealed Taylor Swift.
How did Dakota Johnson take a swipe at Trump?
Trump was in the same photo, so the audience expected the line to refer to him. By naming Swift instead, the joke was widely read as a jab at Trump.
When did Dakota Johnson host SNL?
She hosted on 27 January 2024, her second time as host. Her first time was in 2015.
Who was the musical guest on Dakota Johnson’s SNL episode?
Justin Timberlake was the musical guest. He performed “Selfish” and “Sanctified”.
Sources: NBC Insider, HollywoodLife, The Daily Beast.
