WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Kamala Harris made an unexpected appearance on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) as part of her campaign against Republican Donald Trump. This move parallels actions taken by presidential candidates in the past, including Trump himself.
In October 2015, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared on the NBC television comedy and political satire program as she prepared for several Democratic primaries early in the following year. During her appearance, Clinton played a bartender who was told by an SNL cast member that she was “really easy to talk to,” to which she humorously replied, “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that,” poking fun at her public image of being distant.
The next month, Trump, who would later defeat Clinton in the 2016 election, was also featured on the show. He appeared in a sketch set two years into a hypothetical presidential term, humorously stating, “I don’t have to get specific” when discussing policy, highlighting his lack of political and governance experience at the time.
Ivanka Trump, who would later take a prominent role in her father’s administration, was portrayed as the Secretary of the Interior in the sketch. In a satirical nod to her father’s preference for luxury, she joked that the Washington Monument was now covered in gold-mirrored glass. While the skit was meant to be humorous, it sparked outrage from Latino activists who criticized Trump’s views on immigration.
Another notable appearance was by former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. She participated in a 40th-anniversary episode of SNL in 2015 during speculation about her potential White House aspirations. On the show, she humorously claimed she would consider having Trump as her vice presidential running mate. However, Palin did not pursue a presidential run.
Previously, SNL had also featured both Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican candidate John McCain during the 2008 election cycle.
