‘SNL 50’: The Actor Who Played Donald Trump the Longest Isn’t Alec Baldwin
Saturday Night Live has a history of lampooning political figures. Over 50 years, from Democrats to Republicans, no party members are off limits as targets of the late-night comedy sketch series. Many different cast members have taken their turn playing the sitting president of the United States. However, while Alec Baldwin was one of the most popular actors to characterize Donald Trump, he didn’t do it the longest.
Which actor portrayed Donald Trump the longest on ‘SNL’?
Darrell Hammond holds the record for the longest-running portrayal of United States President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live. He began the characterization in 1999 and continued to impersonate Trump at Studio 8H until 2016, for approximately 17 years.
Hammond’s tenure as Trump is notable not only for its length but also for the depth he brought to the character, capturing various facets of Trump’s persona. His portrayal evolved alongside Trump’s public image, reflecting the changing times and contexts in which the sketches were performed.
In addition to his role as Trump, Hammond is recognized as one of SNL’s longest-serving cast members, with a tenure lasting 14 seasons from 1995 to 2009. He has been the series’ announcer since 2014, taking over for the legendary Don Pardo.
In 2015, as Trump announced his candidacy for president, SNL asked Hammond to reprise his role. However, the show then shifted gears, asking Alec Baldwin to take over the impersonation and aiming for a fresh take on the character during the election season.
How long did Alec Baldwin play Donald Trump on ‘SNL’?
Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of Donald Trump on SNL from 2016 to 2020 became a defining feature of the show’s political satire during that period. Baldwin’s impersonation was marked by exaggerated mannerisms and vocal inflections, capturing Trump’s distinctive style.
As Trump, Baldwin often appeared in sketches parodying real-life events, such as presidential debates, press conferences, and policy announcements. The actor received critical acclaim for the role, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2017.
Baldwin’s performance resonated with audiences and helped to contribute to SNL‘s strong viewership during the 2016 election cycle. However, Baldwin soon expressed mixed feelings about the role, acknowledging the challenges of impersonating a sitting president and the personal toll it took.
In a 2017 Vanity Fair article, Baldwin revealed he initially rejected SNL’s offer to play Trump. “I’d never imitated him.”
He continued, “When [show producer] Lorne [Michaels] called me and asked, ‘Do you want to do this?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t want to be Trump on TV!'”
Baldwin concluded, “Because anytime you do any kind of mimicry, it’s of somebody that you appreciate. I didn’t hate Trump. I just didn’t want to play him.”
After the 2020 presidential election, Baldwin’s appearances as Trump became less frequent. His final portrayal was in November 2020.
What other SNL cast members have played Trump over the years?
Along with Darrell Hammond and Alec Baldwin, several other SNL cast members have portrayed Donald Trump on the NBC comedy series. Characterizations of the former businessman turned United States president have taken place since 1988.
The first to portray Trump was legendary comic Phil Hartman, who impersonated the former real estate mogul from 1988 through 1990. Hartman’s Trump was characterized by a satirical take on his persona, often highlighting his wealth and public image.
Next was Hammond, who holds the record for portraying Trump the longest at 17 years. He was followed by Taran Killam, who played Trump three times.
Jason Sudeikis was a one-and-done as Trump. So were former wrestler John Cena, comedian Shane Gillis, and former SNL cast members Leslie Jones and Vanessa Bayer.
Currently, James Austin Johnson plays the president on SNL. He began his characterization in 2021 after Baldwin stepped back from the role.
SNL hosts its 50th-anniversary celebration with a series of specials, including a Homecoming Concert, and the re-airing of the very first episode beginning February 14. SNL 50: The Anniversary Celebration airs on Sunday, Feb. 16, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
