Saturday Night Live‘s pre-Christmas began last night in Trump Tower, where President-elect Donald Trump (Alec Baldwin) was putting a bow on his cabinet picks.

Rick Perry as energy secretary?

“I saw him on Dancing with the Stars. This guy has so much energy,” Trump exclaims.

But then, a rustling from the chimney.

“Am I being Scrooged?” asks Trump.

Nope, it’s Vladimir Putin.

Well, look who came down the chimney! #SNL pic.twitter.com/0R9o81HvlY — Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) December 18, 2016

Played by cast member Beck Bennett, the shirtless Russian president (who reportedly directed Russia’s hacking campaign to interfere with the U.S. presidential election) congratulates Trump on his win.

“We in Russia are so happy that you are U.S. president,” Putin says. “We think you are the best candidate, the smartest candidate, the Manchurian candidate.”


“I don’t know what means, but it sounds tremendous,” Trump replies.

Putin also comes bearing gifts: A suspiciously altered Elf on the Shelf.

“It’s fun,” Putin says. “You just put right here next to your internet router.”

Trump apologizes for not having a present to give Putin in return.

“Please Mr. Trump, you are the gift,” the Russian president says.

Shortly thereafter, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, enters the room. Played by John Goodman, Tillerson, who has been criticized for his ties to Russia, appears to know Putin.

Or “Pudy,” as the oil company CEO calls him.

As of noon Sunday, Trump had yet to tweet about SNL’s latest parody.