Comedians and celebrities alike have taken to the comedy sketch show’s stage to impersonate certain government officials, mocking their quirks and humorously making light of their power and prominence
Saturday Night Live has put its best comedians forward to emulate the central politicos in this upcoming presidential election.
Throughout its 50 seasons on-air, SNL has satirized many public figures, from celebrities to politicians. Comedians and stars alike have taken to the comedy sketch show’s stage to impersonate certain government officials, mocking their quirks and humorously making light of their power and prominence. Some of the most iconic portrayals of politicians on SNL include the show’s icon Tina Fey as the former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Larry David’s imitation of Senator Bernie Sanders.
Honorable mentions include Will Ferrell as former President George W. Bush, Alec Baldwin as former President Donald Trump, and Matt Damon as the now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
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This year, taking on the political figures on SNL for the 2024 election cycle, include Maya Rudolph, Bowen Yang, Jim Gaffigan, and James Austin Johnson. Maya will be SNL’s Vice President Kamala Harris. Succeeding Alec’s role as Trump is James, while Bowen will be taking on Trump’s running-mate, J.D. Vance, and Jim will be Kamala’s VP-pick, Tim Walz.
Maya debuted her Kamala Harris character on SNL during the 2020 election cycle (
NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
SNL royalty and Wayne’s World star Dana Carvey will be portraying President Joe Biden and Andy Samberg will be mimicking Kamala’s husband Doug Emhoff. Other characters that might appear this season include Trump’s wife Melania, presidential race dropout Robert F. Kennedy Jr, and the Emhoff kids, who haven’t appeared in sketches yet. However, that could change between now and Election Day.
Before it was announced that Maya would return to portray Kamala, fans urged her to dust off her power suit and get back in front of the camera to reprise the popular character on the NBC program in July.
Maya was an SNL cast member from 2000 to 2007. The Bridesmaids star returned to the show when she debuted her Kamala Harris character during the 2020 election cycle in SNL’s impeachment town hall sketch, introducing herself as “America’s cool aunt. A fun aunt. I call that a ‘Funt.'”
Since then, she’s returned to the character multiple times, including in November 2019 for the 2020 Democratic Debate, and later that year as part of the PBS Democratic Debate cold open just after Kamala dropped out of the race. Maya won an Emmy for her performance. In July, fans took to X predicting that Maya and the SNL team will be landing even more Emmys, should she come back in full Kamala form on the comedy.
“Maya Rudolph walking into the SNL writers room today knowing they’re gonna get her several more guest actress emmy wins,” one fan shared along with a video of the VP dancing with children.
“Maya Rudolph on that next phone call with Lorne Michaels,” a viewer wrote, referencing the sketch show’s creator.
