Aziz Ansari Debuts as Kash Patel on SNL, Jabs at FBI Director’s Competence and Drinking Rumors

Key facts

• Aziz Ansari portrayed FBI Director Kash Patel on SNL’s May 10, 2025 cold open.
• Ansari’s Patel declared himself 'the first Indian person to suck at their job.'
• The sketch referenced a real manifesto by Cole Tomas Allen that explicitly excluded Patel from targets.
• Patel has faced rumors of excessive drinking, which Ansari’s character denied with exaggerated anecdotes.
• Ashley Padilla played White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in the same cold open.
• Colin Jost appeared as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, joking about the war’s end.
• The episode was the second-to-last of SNL’s 51st season, with Olivia Rodrigo hosting and performing.

Ansari’s Surprise Appearance as a Controversial FBI Director

Aziz Ansari made his debut as FBI Director Kash Patel on Saturday Night Live’s cold open on May 10, 2025, fulfilling months of fan speculation. The comedian, known for Master of None, strode to the podium with a chest pump as Patel, addressing a room of reporters played by SNL cast members. The sketch immediately leaned into Patel’s polarizing reputation, with Ansari’s character declaring, 'I’m a trailblazer. I’m the first Indian person to suck at their job.' The casting came after a Reddit post on the Live From New York subreddit in September 2024 garnered 40,000 upvotes, suggesting Ansari would be perfect for the role. The cold open marked the first time SNL portrayed Patel, who was appointed FBI Director by President Donald Trump and has faced criticism over his handling of the bureau.

Patel’s Self-Defense and the Assassination Plot Reference

Ansari’s Patel directly addressed the attempted assassination of President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which occurred the previous weekend. The FBI Director claimed the investigation was 'thorough,' adding, 'We dotted every T and bulged every I!' The sketch then pivoted to a real detail from the manifesto of suspected shooter Cole Tomas Allen, 31, who wrote, 'Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.' Patel’s character boasted, 'You get a shoutout like that in a psycho’s manifesto, you must be doing something right!' The line drew laughs but underscored the bizarre exception Allen made for Patel, a fact that remains unexplained. The real Patel has not commented on the manifesto’s exclusion.

Denials of Drinking and Incompetence Amid Firing Rumors

The sketch tackled persistent rumors that Patel has a drinking problem and that President Trump is considering firing him. Ansari’s Patel insisted, 'Let me be clear: this FBI director has never been drunk or hungover on the job.' He then launched into a series of absurd denials, claiming he had never filled a 40-ounce travel mug with a 'Kashtini' cocktail, never used taxpayer funds for a private jet to visit three Buffalo Wild Wings locations, and never stood on a couch at Tao Nightclub shouting, 'Who wants the nuclear codes?!' of his impending dismissal, Patel replied, 'Hell, no! President Trump loves me. Everybody loves me.' The real Patel has faced mounting speculation that he could be the next White House official fired, though no official decision has been announced.

A Triple Threat of Impressions in the Cold Open

The cold open featured three high-profile impressions: Ashley Padilla as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Colin Jost as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Ansari as Patel. Padilla, who had appeared at Deadline’s Contenders Television event the previous week, handed the podium to Jost, whose Hegseth joked about the war in Ukraine: 'That’s like asking, when is sex gonna be over? Answer, when the man is done.' The sequence set up Ansari’s entrance, which became the centerpiece of the sketch. The episode was the second-to-last of SNL’s 51st season, airing live from NBC’s Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Next week’s show will feature Matt Damon and Noah Kahan, while the season finale on May 16 will star Will Ferrell and Paul McCartney.

Wider Context: SNL’s Season and Recent Events

The cold open drew on a week of major news, including the attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, renewed attacks on the Trumps by Jimmy Kimmel, and the debut of The Devil Wears Prada 2. SNL had not aired a cold open since April 11, making this sketch its first in nearly a month. The show also referenced a visit by a British king to the United States during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, though the sketch did not elaborate. Oliveria Rodrigo served as both host and musical guest for the episode, performing her unreleased track 'Drop Dead' from her upcoming album You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, set for release next month. This was Rodrigo’s first time hosting SNL, though she had appeared as musical guest twice before.

What Comes Next for Patel and SNL

The sketch leaves open the question of whether Patel will indeed be fired, as rumors suggest. Ansari’s portrayal may amplify public scrutiny of the FBI Director, who has already faced criticism from both parties. Meanwhile, SNL will conclude its 51st season with two more episodes, including a finale featuring Will Ferrell and Paul McCartney. Ansari’s cameo has been widely praised online, with fans calling for him to return as Patel in future sketches. The real Patel has not responded to the parody, but the sketch’s references to his alleged drinking and incompetence are likely to fuel further debate about his tenure. The FBI declined to comment on the portrayal.

The bottom line

• Aziz Ansari’s debut as Kash Patel on SNL satirized the FBI Director’s self-described trailblazing and competence.
• The sketch referenced a real assassination plot that explicitly spared Patel, a fact that remains unexplained.
• Patel’s denial of drinking rumors and firing speculation mirrored real controversies surrounding his leadership.
• The cold open featured three impressions, including Ashley Padilla as Karoline Leavitt and Colin Jost as Pete Hegseth.
• The episode was the second-to-last of SNL’s 51st season, with Olivia Rodrigo hosting and performing.
• The portrayal may intensify public debate over Patel’s performance as FBI Director.