SNL Season 52 Episode 2 breakdown: Donald Trump parody, Dakota Johnson, Taylor Swift cameo, and Turnstile performance

SNL Season 52 is back with a brand new episode this Saturday with Dakota Johnson as the host. The Fifty Shades of Grey actor previously appeared as a host in 2024 and 2015.

Former cast member Jeff Richards is thrilled to see Johnson back, trying live comedy. According to Entertainment Weekly, he shares that Johnson's Madame Web is the pinnacle of Sony's Spider-Man universe.

Elsewhere, Turnstile appears as this episode's musical guest. Taylor Swift also swings by to give some friendly advice to Dakota Johnson. In the cold open, James Austin Johnson appears as President Donald Trump.

Here's more about it.

SNL Season 52 Episode 2 recap: Cold open

The cold open for SNL Season 52 Episode 2 takes the viewers to the RNC headquarters. Ashley Padilla and Andrew Dismukes play strategists who struggle to figure out a message to help Republican candidates in November. Marcello Hernández plays Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is called to communicate with Hispanic voters. He tells how he was tricked by President Donald Trump, just like the voters.

Mikey Day appears as Mitch McConnell, who is in a wheelchair. He seems confused and holds a peace sign.

Colin Jost plays Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who opens a non-alcoholic beer and drinks it. Jeremy Culhane plays Vice President JD Vance, and it seems like no one is interested in listening to his advice.

James Austin Johnson appears as President Donald Trump and starts murmuring some haphazard messages. It seems like all that Johnson's Trump is aiming for is victory. He also jokes about Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton.

Dakota Johnson's monologue and Taylor Swift cameo in SNL Season 52 Episode 2

Dakota Johnson says that it's her birthday as soon as the clock hits midnight. She jokes about Madame Web's box office collection and then says that she has been through two 'very public' breakups with popular musicians. She also speaks about her latest movie, Verity. Her friend, Taylor Swift, appears and jokes,

"I'm not your therapist, actually. You just show up once a week in my house with an empty bottle of wine and ask if I want some.... And then you overshare. D*mn that's crazy."

Press Your Luck with Dakota Johnson

Johnson then appears as Elizabeth Banks and hosts Press Your Luck. Padilla plays Sherri, a loud player who wins a million dollars. She wins again and says that she is addicted to playing the game. Eventually, she wins a whopping prize amount of $5 million. In the end, turns out she just wants to buy Advil.

Mean Scary Girlfriend sketch and Hospital Gossip

Dakota Johnson plays a mean, scary girlfriend who gives sassy and honest answers. She does not sugarcoat her answers and gives some savage advice.

Next up is a hospital gossip sketch where a few nurses are seen chatting in the food hall at a hospital. Culhane plays Eric, who is going through a tough time. However, he keeps gossiping about himself and making third-party confessions.

In a different sequence, Dakota Johnson's character introduces a gun designed to look like a blurred female anatomy and says it's a gun for women.

Next up, Andrew Dismukes appears as Sir Krestley and updates the Queen portrayed by Johnson about their latest battle. Johnson's Queen summons Sir Aleric (Ben Marshall), and he gets distracted in between because her dragons are watching them. He wants them to leave, but the dragons act like the Queen's pets as they scratch the door.

Turnstile's performance in SNL Season 52 Episode 2

Turnstile performs Birds from their album Never Enough. They won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance of the Year for Birds. Their performance kicks off with a drum solo.

The band also performs I Care in this episode of SNL Season 52.

SNL Season 52 Episode 2: Weekend Update

SNL is incomplete without Weekend Update. Colin Jost comments on Pete Hegseth's military address. He also covers Texas politics, Tennessee's botched death row execution, and Kristi Noem's divorce. Michael Che speaks about the Cornell 7 rape allegations, and the camera pans to Jost, who attended a privileged Ivy League institution.

Day appears as Link from The Legend of Zelda, and Hernández plays Jason from GTA 6, and they debate about their games and outfits. Both games' latest versions are set to be released this November.

Sarah Sherman appears as Debbie Mosh, a NYC matchmaker. She comes to discuss Che's options and makes quite a few suggestions. However, he has high expectations.

Sleepover and TikToks

Sherman, Jane Wickline, and Veronika Slowikowska play girls having a sleepover as they show each other TikTok videos of Get Ready for Me. James Austin Johnson plays Sherman's father, who keeps offering them snacks.

In a different sequence, James Austin Johnson plays a father, and this time Slowikowska plays his daughter. The father is in a coma after being hit by a bus, and his daughter sings to him Somewhere Over the Rainbow.