NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” is facing backlash after suggesting that former President Donald Trump had made up the term “de-banking” while speaking at a recent event.
During the show’s popular “Weekend Update” segment, host Colin Jost made fun of Trump for using the term during his speech, saying he had no idea what it meant. “I don’t know what the hell ‘de-bank’ means, but you might have to take ‘de-ambulance’ to see ‘de-doctor,” Jost joked.
However, what the SNL writers failed to realize is that “de-banking” is a legitimate term used in the finance industry. It refers to the practice of banks closing accounts of individuals or organizations deemed to be a financial, legal, or reputational risk. In recent years, this has become a growing concern among conservative figures and organizations.
In 2022, Canadian banks were accused of de-banking protesters from the Canadian Freedom Convoy, sparking outrage from those on the right. The trend went even further when prominent Brexit leader Nigel Farage claimed his account with the UK bank Coutts had been closed due to his political beliefs. The bank denied this, but a memo obtained by a British newspaper showed that Coutts had decided that Farage’s views did “not align” with the bank.
More recently, in 2023, Bank of America faced scrutiny when the Tennessee-based Christian organization Indigenous Advanced Ministries accused the bank of “de-banking” them due to their religious beliefs. The nonprofit received warning letters from the bank claiming that their “risk profile no longer aligns with the bank’s risk tolerance.” Bank of America insisted that the closure was due to an “internal debt collection policy,” but has not provided any further explanation.
Conservatives have long been skeptical of big banks and their influence on society. This incident with the Bank of America only serves to fuel that belief. It appears that even religious organizations are not immune to being de-banked if their views do not align with those of the bank. This raises questions about the potential for censorship and discrimination based on one’s beliefs.
The left’s response to SNL’s mistake only adds to the frustration felt by many on the right. Instead of acknowledging the use of the term “de-banking,” they chose to mock Trump and his supporters. This type of smug attitude only showcases the disconnect between the mainstream media and the everyday American.
They know what de-banking is and they’re happy it’s happening.
They want to see people who oppose their ideologies suffer.
They pretend not to know what it is so their audience won’t learn it’s going on.
SNL cast aren’t comedians. They’re activists for the establishment.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl ) January 28, 2024
It’s not the first time SNL has faced criticism for its political commentary. In the past, they have faced backlash for their portrayal of conservative figures, often resorting to cheap jokes and stereotypes. It seems that they have once again missed the mark and ended up making themselves look foolish in the process.
Conservatives are becoming increasingly concerned with the level of censorship and bias in the media. They see incidents like this as evidence that their voices are not being heard and that the mainstream media has a clear bias towards the left. The fact that a popular comedy show like SNL can’t even be bothered to do a simple Google search before making a joke only adds to the feeling of being ignored and mocked.
SNL’s in such a hurry to dunk on Trump that they made themselves look like idiots again. https://t.co/4nu4OpSWL1 pic.twitter.com/KY4hk9F33I
— Doug Powers (@ThePowersThatBe) January 28, 2024
It’s time for the media to take a step back and reevaluate their approach to covering politics and current events. Instead of perpetuating harmful stereotypes and mocking those with different beliefs, they should strive for fairness and accuracy in their reporting. SNL’s blunder is just one example of the media’s failure to fairly represent all sides of the political spectrum.
