By Jessica Wedemeyer
6:00pm PDT, Apr 6, 2024
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We’re looking again at a number of the stars who’ve memorably portrayed political figures on “Saturday Evening Reside” over time
In the course of the Easter-themed chilly open on the March 30, 2024, episode of “Saturday Evening Reside,” forged member James Austin Johnson delivered one other spot-on impression of former President Donald Trump as he emerged from Christ’s tomb and mocked the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee for — no joke — hawking $60 Bibles throughout Holy Week.
Hold studying to see extra politicians or presidents on NBC’s “SNL”...
MORE: Observe Wonderwall on MSN for extra enjoyable celeb & leisure picture galleries and content material
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Sarah Sherman performed Sen. Chuck Schumer and Chloe Fineman performed Rep. Nancy Pelosi throughout the Jan. sixth Closing Listening to Chilly Open on the Oct. 15, 2022, episode of “Saturday Evening Reside.”
MORE: Legendary “Saturday Evening Reside” alums
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Iconic! In 2009, Tina Fey gained an Emmy for portraying then-Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on “Saturday Evening Reside.” The conservative politician — who was the Republican nominee for vp in 2008 — even stopped by the set to look at the comic in motion. She was pictured hanging out backstage with “SNL” boss Lorne Michaels as Tina did her factor in October 2008 — mere weeks earlier than the election.
MORE: Everybody who’s anchored “Weekend Replace” on “SNL” over the a long time
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The Hillary Clinton to her Sarah Palin! Tina Fey’s longtime pal and collaborator Amy Poehler has portrayed Hillary Clinton on “Saturday Evening Reside” greater than another actress. In September 2008, the duo teamed as much as convey two of probably the most iconic ladies in politics to the small display screen. Round that point, Amy scored two Emmy nominations for her work on “SNL.”
MORE: “Saturday Evening Reside” stars of the ’70s: See them now
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The incomparable Kate McKinnon — who left “Saturday Evening Reside” in Might 2022 after 10 seasons, throughout which she expertly parodied many alternative politicians — delivered laughs together with her portrayal of former New York Metropolis Mayor Rudy Giuliani in his capability as President Donald Trump’s private legal professional in 2020. The Emmy winner is seen right here throughout the “Michigan Hearings” chilly open on the Dec. 5, 2020, episode of “SNL.”
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Former South Carolina governor and United Nation ambassador Nikki Haley made a shock look as herself within the chilly open sketch on the Feb. 3, 2024, episode of “Saturday Evening dwell,” which noticed her going toe-to-toe with comic James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump. (The CNN Trump City Corridor-themed bit additionally featured “SNL” stars Punkie Johnson as Gayle King, Kenan Thompson as Charles Barkley and Devon Walker as Republican South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, who endorsed Trump after he suspended his personal presidential marketing campaign in late 2023.)
Following her introduction as “a involved South Carolina voter,” Haley requested “Trump” her first query: “Why will not you debate Nikki Haley?” After he known as her Nancy Pelosi, she fired again, “Are you doing OK, Donald? You would possibly want a psychological competency check.” She then poked at Trumps ongoing (and very costly) authorized points: “You spent $50 million by yourself authorized charges. Do it’s worthwhile to borrow some cash?” She additionally teased Trump, “Did you win your private home state within the final election?” And when he mixed her identify with “The Sixth Sense” star Haley Joel Osment’s and stated he sees lifeless folks, she replied by slamming the truth that each Trump and President Joe Biden are senior residents, quipping, “That is what voters will say in the event that they see you and Joe on the poll.”
The sketch ended with the episode’s host, “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri, asking Haley, “I used to be simply curious: What would you say was the primary reason for the Civil Conflict and do you assume it begins with an ‘s’ and ends with a ‘lavery.'”
Stated the distinguished Republican and presidential candidate, “Sure, I in all probability ought to’ve stated that the primary time.”
Haley drew warmth again in late 2023 when she was requested in regards to the Civil Conflict throughout a New Hampshire city corridor and stated it was the results of folks disagreeing over “the freedoms of what folks might and could not do” however failed to say slavery as a trigger.
MORE: “Saturday Evening Reside” stars of the ’80s: The place are they now?
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Bowen Yang portrayed ousted Congressman George Santos within the hilarious “George Santos Expelled” chilly open — throughout which the disgraced politician sang his personal particular model of Elton John’s “Candle within the Wind” — on a December 2023 episode of “Saturday Evening Reside.”
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In the course of the “Saturday Evening Reside” season 47 “Biden Unites Democrats” chilly open on Oct. 2, 2021, new “SNL” forged member James Austin Johnson launched viewers to his model of President Joe Biden. Pre-“SNL,” James was finest identified for the viral movies during which he impersonated former President Donald Trump. Rounding out the in-the-news politicians that evening? Aidy Bryant as Senator Joe Manchin, Cecily Robust as Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Pete Davidson as former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Ego Nwodim as Consultant Ilhan Omar and Melissa Villaseñor as Consultant Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
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In the course of the “Republican Debate” chilly open on the Nov. 11, 2023, episode of “Saturday Evening Reside,” forged members took on the politicians who participated within the third GOP debate forward of the 2024 presidential election: Molly Kearney was former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie; Heidi Gardner was former South Carolina Governor and Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley; John Higgins was Florida Governor Ron DeSantis; Ego Nwodim was businessman-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy and Devon Walker was South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.
Hold studying to see the forged member who crashed the celebration as former President Donald Trump…
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In the course of the “Republican Debate” chilly open on the Nov. 11, 2023, episode of “Saturday Evening Reside,” former President Donald Trump — completely performed by forged member James Austin Johnson — confirmed as much as mock the GOP politicians collaborating within the third Republican debate forward of the 2024 major.
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Kate McKinnon’s expertise is aware of no bounds! She memorably portrayed former secretary of state and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for years reverse Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump on “Saturday Evening Reside,” together with right here in 2016.
Across the time the previous FLOTUS ran for president, Kate gained two Emmys for her work on “SNL.”
However HRC is not the one well-known lady in politics whom the comic has impersonated on the long-running sketch-comedy present…
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Kate McKinnon additionally portrayed Senator Elizabeth Warren on “Saturday Evening Reside.” She even bought the stamp of approval from the progressive Democrat, who appeared alongside the comic on “SNL” in early 2020 amid her run for president.
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Kate McKinnon has worn many political hats on “SNL.” The Emmy winner portrayed Rep. Liz Cheney alongside “Weekend Replace” anchor Colin Jost on “Saturday Evening Reside” in Might 2021.
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Bowen Yang did a hilarious impression of infamous liar and Republican Congressman George Santos reverse fellow forged members Marcello Hernandez as Mario Lopez and Heidi Gardner as “both Maria Menounos or Equipment Hoover, they have not informed me but” throughout the Academy Awards pink carpet-themed chilly open on a March 2023 episode of “Saturday Evening Reside.”
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The Dec. 17, 2022, episode of “Saturday Evening Reside” took on Donald Trump’s Christmas NFT assortment announcement. James Austin Johnson portrayed the previous president whereas Mikey Day popped in as Donald Trump Jr. and Cecily Robust — in her remaining episode as a forged member — bought loud to painting Don Jr.’s fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle.
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Cecily Robust portrayed Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Chloe Fineman portrayed Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado — the controversy-sparking and gun-loving politician who in Might 2023 made headlines when she confirmed she was divorcing her husband of 18 years — within the chilly open on the Dec. 11, 2021, episode of NBC’s “Saturday Evening Reside.”
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James Austin Johnson portrayed Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell alongside Kenan Thompson as former skilled soccer participant Herschel Walker — the Republican challenger in Georgia’s 2022 Senate runoff who in the end misplaced his race — within the chilly open phase on the Dec. 3, 2022, episode of “Saturday Evening Reside.”
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Mikey Day performed Rep. Jamie Raskin, Kenan Thompson performed Rep. Bennie Thompson and Heidi Gardner performed Rep. Liz Cheney throughout the Jan. sixth Closing Listening to Chilly Open on the Oct. 15, 2022, episode of “Saturday Evening Reside.”
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Cecily Robust portrayed Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney throughout the “Republican or Not?” sketch on the Nov. 20, 2021, episode of “Saturday Evening Reside.”
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James Austin Johnson performed former president Donald Trump reverse Bowen Yang’s Easter Bunny throughout the “Easter Needs Chilly Open” on an April 2022 episode of “Saturday Evening Reside.”
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In 2017, Alec Baldwin gained an Emmy for his portrayal of President Donald Trump on “Saturday Evening Reside.” He scored one other nomination for his work as the fact star-turned-politician in 2018.
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Three actors performed Joe Biden in a single sketch in 2021: Forged member Alex Moffat (left) performed a model of Biden from March 2021, visitor host Jason Sudeikis (middle) performed “the ghost of Biden previous” from eight years earlier when he was vp, and forged member James Austin Johnson (proper) performed the October 2021 model of Biden throughout the “Biden Assembly” chilly open on the Oct. 23, 2021, episode of “SNL.”
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“Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis left “Saturday Evening Reside” in 2013 after 10 seasons on the present, however he is returned a number of instances since then to painting former VP-turned-President Joe Biden (pictured in 2008) in addition to one other politician: Republican Senator Mitt Romney.
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“Saturday Evening Reside” scored comedy legend Jim Carrey to play former vice president-turned-Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for six weeks surrounding the 2020 presidential election, and Emmy-winning comedy star Maya Rudolph joined him to play Joe’s vice presidential working mate, Kamala Harris. They’re seen right here in a sketch that aired on the Oct. 31, 2020, episode of “SNL” days earlier than Joe and Kamala gained the election.
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Comedy. Gold. Will Ferrell unforgettably portrayed President George W. Bush on “Saturday Evening Reside” throughout his time as a fundamental forged member within the early 2000s. (He is seen right here reverse Dean Edwards as Secretary of State Colin Powell, Seth Meyers as Basic Richard Myers and Maya Rudolph as Nationwide Safety Advisor Condoleeza Rice.) Round that point, he scored an Emmy nomination for his work on “SNL.”
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Here is a greater take a look at Will Ferrell when he introduced the laughs along with his tackle President George W. Bush. He is seen right here because the POTUS within the “Guccione Peace Plan” skit that aired in April 2002.
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Beck Bennett portrayed Senator Mitch McConnell on “Saturday Evening Reside” when the Kentucky Republican served as Senate majority chief. Beck, seen right here in 2020, additionally introduced Vice President Mike Pence to life on the NBC sketch-comedy present — see that subsequent…
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On the Dec. 19, 2020, episode of “SNL,” forged member Alex Moffat debuted his tackle then-President-elect Joe Biden with an in a position help from repeat visitor star Maya Rudolph as then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. (Maya gained an Emmy for her work as the previous senator on “SNL” the earlier season.) Forged member Beck Bennett additionally killed it as Vice President Mike Pence within the “Pence Will get The Vaccine” chilly open that evening.
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Forged member James Austin Johnson performed President Joe Biden, who was urging Individuals to “cease seeing ‘Spider-Man'” to curb coronavirus outbreaks when he bought a go to from Pete Davidson — who performed a tattooed and shirtless Joe Biden from an alternate universe — throughout the Marvel multiverse-skewering “Message from the President” chilly open sketch on “Saturday Evening Reside” on Jan. 15, 2022.
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The late Phil Hartman was the primary individual to play President Invoice Clinton on “Saturday Evening Reside.” He portrayed the saxophone-playing politician within the early ’90s till he left “SNL” in 1994 — the identical yr he scored his first Emmy nomination for his performing on the sketch-comedy present.
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After Phil Hartman left “Saturday Evening Reside,” Darrell Hammond took over as President Invoice Clinton. He is portrayed the politician ever since — although he hasn’t served as a fundamental forged member since 2009. (Yep, Darrell even portrayed Slick Willie on season 45 of “SNL” in early 2020.)
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Forged member Chris Redd portrayed New York Metropolis’s latest mayor, swagger-obsessed Eric Adams, in a hilarious press convention sketch on the Jan. 15, 2022, episode of “Saturday Evening Reside.”
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James Austin Johnson performed President Joe Biden alongside fellow comic Ego Nwodim, who portrayed then-newly confirmed Supreme Court docket Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson — the primary Black feminine justice on the court docket ever — throughout the “KBJ Affirmation Chilly Open” that aired on “SNL” on April 9, 2022.
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On the Feb. 20, 2021, episode of “SNL,” Pete Davidson performed New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (within the midst of his COVID-19 nursing house loss of life depend scandal) whereas Aidy Bryant performed Senator Ted Cruz (after he hightailed it again from an ill-advised journey to sunny Cancun, Mexico, whereas his Texas constituents coped with a deep-freeze disaster) reverse Chloe Fineman’s Britney Spears throughout the present’s apology-themed chilly open.
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Aidy Bryant donned a wig and a faux beard to skewer Texas Senator Ted Cruz and his assault on “Sesame Avenue” character Massive Hen for endorsing COVID-19 vaccinations throughout the “Ted Cruz Sesame Avenue” chilly open on the Nov. 13, 2021, episode of “SNL.” Additionally pictured within the sketch: Pete Davidson as controversy-sparking podcast host Joe Rogan, Kyle Mooney as Massive Hen and Andrew Dismukes as a child.
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Jay Pharoah portrayed President Barack Obama on “Saturday Evening Reside” till his tenure with the present got here to an finish in 2016.
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In a little bit of casting that simply would not fly right now, Fred Armisen portrayed President Barack Obama on “Saturday Evening Reside” throughout his time as a fundamental forged member on the long-running sketch-comedy present. (He handed off the reins to Jay Pharoah in 2012.) Through the years, Fred has additionally portrayed President George H. W. Bush and up to date presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg.
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Larry David ceaselessly brings the LOLs to “SNL” as Bernie Sanders. He began enjoying the Vermont senator on “Saturday Evening Reside” in 2015 — the primary time the progressive politician ran for president. The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star scored an Emmy nomination for his efforts. (The Bernie look-alike is pictured alongside Jason Sudeikis as Joe Biden and Rachel Dratch as Minnesota Senator and former presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar.)
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Dana Carvey portrayed President George H. W. Bush on “Saturday Evening Reside” for greater than a decade between 1987 and 2000. He even gained an Emmy in 1993 for his work as Papa Bush.
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Within the late ’70s, authentic “Saturday Evening Reside” forged member Chevy Chase memorably portrayed President Gerald Ford as an accident-prone klutz. The comic gained an Emmy in 1976 for his impersonation of Ford, who shot a cameo for “SNL” that exact same yr.
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One other authentic “Saturday Evening Reside” forged member who portrayed a president? Dan Aykroyd! The enduring comic performed Richard Nixon within the late ’70s. He is pictured together with the late, nice John Belushi as Nixon Nationwide Safety Advisor Henry Kissinger.
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Kristen Wiig portrayed Nancy Pelosi on “Saturday Evening Reside” from 2006 to 2011. She left “SNL” the next yr — after scoring her fourth Emmy nomination for her work on the long-running sketch-comedy present. (Kate McKinnon later portrayed the speaker of the home.)
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In 2020, co-head author Colin Jost portrayed South Bend, Indiana, mayor and former presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg on “Saturday Evening Reside.”
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James Austin Johnson portrayed former President Donald Trump — who in contrast himself to Jesus — in the Final Supper-themed chilly open sketch on the April 8, 2023, episode of “Saturday Evening Reside.” After calling Jesus “a well-known fantastic man arrested for no cause in any respect,” James’s Trump stated, “If you have not put it collectively, of us, I am evaluating myself to Jesus once more. And what higher time than on his birthday, Easter? As we converse, I’m being persecuted on a degree the likes of which the world has by no means seen — even worse than the late, nice Jesus.” He went on to name Jesus a “white American” and a “nepo child.” After all, it wasn’t the primary time James skewered Trump on the long-running sketch-comedy present — maintain studying for an additional of his greatest hits…
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Mikey Day performed Donald Trump Jr. and James Austin Johnson performed former President Donald Trump throughout the “Trump Indictment Chilly Open” on “Saturday Evening Reside” on April Idiot’s Day 2023.