A 2004 “Saturday Night Live” skit featuring then-“The Apprentice” host Donald Trump is gaining renewed attention on social media.
In the sketch, Trump humorously promotes a fictitious restaurant called “Donald Trump’s House of Wings,” clad in a bright yellow suit and surrounded by people in chicken costumes.
Despite its original airing in the April 2004 episode hosted by Trump, the sketch was omitted from SNL DVDs containing the episode and was also absent from the episode’s Hulu version.
Donald Trump has a notable history with “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), having hosted the show twice and appearing in various sketches. His relationship with the show spans several decades, reflecting both his celebrity status and his later political career.
Trump first appeared on SNL in 1988, when he was just a famous businessman known for his real estate ventures. Over the years, even before his political ascent, Trump was frequently mentioned on the show in various contexts, often poking fun at his public persona and business exploits.
Trump hosted “Saturday Night Live” for the first time on April 3, 2004. At this time, he was riding high on the success of his reality TV show, “The Apprentice.” His appearance included a variety of sketches, one of the most memorable being the aforementioned “Donald Trump’s House of Wings,” a fake commercial in which he promoted a chicken wing restaurant.
Trump hosted SNL for the second time on November 7, 2015, amid his campaign for the U.S. presidency. This appearance was much more controversial, given his political statements on the campaign trail and his burgeoning political career. The decision to have Trump host received criticism and sparked protests due to his comments about immigrants and other controversial topics. Nonetheless, the episode gave Trump a platform to showcase his lighter side and was one of the highest-rated episodes in recent SNL history, despite the backlash.
Throughout his presidency, Trump was portrayed by actor Alec Baldwin, who won an Emmy for his impersonation. Baldwin’s portrayal was characterized by exaggerated facial expressions, distinctive vocal patterns, and satirical commentary on Trump’s policies and demeanor.
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This ongoing portrayal was a staple of SNL’s political commentary during Trump’s time in office, highlighting key moments from his presidency and drawing both praise and criticism for its sharpness.
Trump has had a mixed reaction to SNL’s sketches about him. While he initially took his portrayal in stride, he grew increasingly critical of the show during his presidency, often tweeting his disapproval and challenging the show’s portrayal of his administration.
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