NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” imagined if time froze over and Donald Trump finally appeared at a Republican debate.
While the true former president and current GOP frontrunner spent Saturday night taking in a UFC fight in Madison Square Garden, his “SNL” alter ego was gleefully belittling his Republican competitors and reminding viewers who’s top dog.
The show kicked off with “SNL” depicting its own network’s Wednesday contest because the “kids’ table debate,” featuring Ego Nwodim as Vivek Ramaswamy, Heidi Gardner as Nikki Haley, John Higgins as Ron DeSantis, Molly Kearney as Chris Christie and Devon Walker as Sen. Tim Scott.
Then Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, stormed onto the scene with a smirk on his face near the dimensions of his polling lead.
“How lovable they really think they’ve got a likelihood. Sad in some ways, but in other ways funny. Can you suspect it folks? Ninety-one indictments, 4 trials. And I’m still the most effective alternative,” the fake Trump ribbed as the talk froze within the background.
“Now they’re all stuck behind me. And there’s nothing they will do about it, identical to in real life — three percent, eight percent, 14%, five percent,” he sneered, ticking through their polling figures.
Trump noted that Scott was polling at just one percent, “lower than frankly milk,” resulting in a latest nickname for the senator.
“We like Skim Scott. We love him,” Johnson’s Trump said. “And his girlfriend. Not a variety of chemistry between those to right? They make me and Melania seem like Taylor and Travis.”
SNL’s Trump explained why he wasn’t capable of attend the verbal bout — he’s skipped all three of them in real life and hinted at plans to boycott the fourth on Dec. 6 as well.
“None of them can beat Joe Biden. The worst president since, frankly, me,” he quipped. “I’m very, very busy. I’m going from trial to trial. I’m principally doing ‘House Hunters’ but with courtrooms.”
In real life, Trump opted for a counter programming rally in nearby Hialeah, Fla. as a substitute. But in SNL land, Trump was having the time of his life, crowing about his dominance.
Scott debuted his girlfriend, design and renovation manager Mindy Noce in the course of the verbal bout, sending tongues wagging across the country.
One after the other, Johnson’s Trump ridiculed his Republican rivals onstage.
“How about Vivek Ramaswamy? We prefer to say Ramaswamy! But can we like him?” SNL’s Trump asked. “He’s lots like me. Aside from one thing that matters lots to my horrible, horrible base: White! Sad. He’s going nowhere.”
“Poor Ron DeSantis, even ‘SNL’ doesn’t think he has a likelihood. In the event that they did, it’d be like Paul Rudd there’s something in there.”
“How about Nikki Haley right,” he quipped. “I even have trouble hearing women over 25.”
“How could we forget Chris Christie? It’s actually pretty easy. You simply walk away,” he jabbed concerning the Trump attack dog.
Johnson’s Trump then aired out a few of real-life Trump’s grievances over his legal struggles.
“They’re saying I committed fraud,” he said. “Not true, OK? Not true. I’ve committed a variety of things; adultery, treason, a variety of fraud, perhaps.”
He then noted the way it was sad that prosecutors forced his “sweet little middle-aged criminal children” to testify against him, and predicted how it is going to all end.
“It’ll be very sad once I pin all of it on one among them, probably Eric,” he said.
This week’s “SNL” was hosted by actor Timothée Chalamet, who cheered the recent deal between the actors within the SAG-AFTRA union and studios, ending the multi-month strike.
The episode also featured musical guest boygenius.
