‘SNL’ Cold Open: ‘AA Team’ Jeanine Pirro and Pete Hegseth Reunite for a Boozy Bonding Session

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Cecily Strong made a triumphant return as Jeanine Pirro in the latest cold open, joining Colin Jost’s Pete Hegseth for a hilarious reunion of “old drinking buddies.”

Dubbed the “AA Team” by Donald Trump (portrayed by James Austin Johnson), the pair reminisced about their glory days at Fox News while navigating a chaotic and boozy skit.

“I’m so proud to be part of this group full of Russian assets, booze hounds, and people famous for the little baby animals they’ve killed,” quipped Strong’s Pirro, referring to her new position as interim attorney for the District of Columbia, appointed by Trump.

Trump praised Pirro’s key qualification: “She’s on TV!” He added, “I love hiring people from Fox News. They all do an incredible job. Just look at Pete Hegseth—never a single mistake.”

“No!” Pirro exclaimed. “He’s my old drinking buddy!”

Jost’s Hegseth then made a dramatic entrance, surprising Pirro, who responded by spraying wine directly onto his face.

The comedic momentum continued as Trump questioned Hegseth about the state of military F-18 fighter jets. “Is it bombing the Houthis?” Pirro asked, to which Hegseth replied, “Close. It fell off the aircraft carrier into the ocean,” prompting yet another spray of wine from Pirro.

Trump, concerned about Hegseth’s sobriety, reminded him of his pledge to avoid drinking if confirmed as Defense Secretary. “I promised no bottle would touch my lips,” Hegseth replied, revealing a creative workaround as he pulled a bottle of liquor from his jacket.

Offering the bottle to Pirro, Hegseth teased some news. After taking a swig, Pirro learned the latest mishap: “Anyway,” Hegseth confessed, “I accidentally added Kim Jong-un to the group chat.”

The scene culminated with Pirro attempting to spit liquor at Hegseth once more. This time, he eagerly leaned in, mouth open, embracing the chaos.

This SNL cold open masterfully combined political satire, over-the-top antics, and the sharp performances of its cast to deliver a laugh-out-loud moment for viewers.