SNL skewered the news that former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI as part of the federal probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump was visited by Flynn in chains, in the guise of Jacob Marley ("the ghost of witness flipped"), and by the ghosts of Christmas past (Billy Bush), present (Vladimir Putin) and future (Hillary Clinton).
"Can you believe I got fired just for listening to you?" Bush asked Trump, a reference to the now-infamous 2005 Access Hollywood outtake that led to Bush's ouster from Today in October 2016.
Referencing the downfall of Today anchor Matt Lauer earlier this week, Bush added: "I'm looking pretty good in the NBC News division right now."
Kate McKinnon made two appearances in the cold open, first as Kellyanne Conway and again as Clinton.
Cecily Strong limned Melania Trump, spoofing the first lady's artsy White House holiday decorations that generated much commentary this week.
Clinton told Trump she was enjoying long-delayed "sexual gratification in the form of your slow demise" and then chanted "Lock him up."
Trump closed the sketch by vowing to change his ways. "I know what I need to do - erase Seasons 1-14 of The Apprentice and fire Robert Mueller," he said.
