Lorne Michaels: ‘SNL’ will ‘reinvent’ how Trump is portrayed

Lorne Michaels, the creator and producer of “Saturday Night Live,” says he will have to “reinvent” former President Trump’s character on the show.

“I think we have the people to play [the candidates], and it should be fun. And Trump has morphed,” Michaels told the Hollywood Reporter.

He confirmed that James Austin Johnson will continue to depict Trump but shared that new elements will be added to keep the audience connected and engaged.

“One of the great parts of show business is that you can’t come back with the same show,” Michaels stated. “So, all of these characters have to be reexamined, and if it makes sense and feels relevant, you know you’re on the right track.” 

Maya Rudolph, a former “Saturday Night Live” star, is coming back to play Vice President Harris. It’s unclear who might play Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Actor and comedian Steve Martin, another “SNL” favorite, has said it will not be him.

The actor Alec Baldwin played Trump for much of his presidency on the show.

While Michaels did not disclose who would be cast for the role of Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, Michaels did say Republicans were easier to characterize than Democrats who have been offended by certain skits.

“It’s not personal in the sense of an attack, it’s just, you did say that and you did do that, so were you thinking it would be rude for us to comment on it? That’s what we do, and we’re going to do it again,” Michaels said, hammering down in support of his writers. 

Fellow comedian Michael Che agreed with Michaels.

“I can’t agree with everything political that we’ve had on the show. And I’m sure there’s stuff I’ve written that’s made some cast members bristle or some writers go, ‘What are we putting on? We can’t say that.’ But we have to live with each other; we’re renting this space and trying to get this real estate for our ideas. So, there’s no one mission statement, I don’t believe, beyond funny is funny,” Che said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.