--- title: Donald Trump Tries to Show He Can Take a Joke description: Donald Trump used an appearance on Saturday Night Live to show he doesn't take himself too seriously. canonical: https://time.com/4103976/donald-trump-saturday-night-live-larry-david/ author: Tessa Berenson article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-11-08T05:38:22.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:39:50.259Z article:section: Politics og:title: Donald Trump Tries to Show He Can Take a Joke og:description: On "Saturday Night Live." og:url: https://time.com/4103976/donald-trump-saturday-night-live-larry-david/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9126c9f2a2bf569b/698870140b72e3120b6e6b76/donald-trump-snl.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: Donald Trump attends a press conference for the release of his new book "Crippled America" at Trump Tower on November 3, 2015 in New York City. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Donald Trump Tries to Show He Can Take a Joke twitter:description: On "Saturday Night Live." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9126c9f2a2bf569b/698870140b72e3120b6e6b76/donald-trump-snl.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Donald Trump Tries to Show He Can Take a Joke on 'Saturday Night Live' > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=db7bbb53-d7ab-4bfa-9863-a44087d75123&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Donald Trump Envisions Life As President On SNL [Watch (HLS stream): Donald Trump Envisions Life As President On SNL](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/yxXUO63Y.m3u8) (1:02)  _Published 2015-11-08. Donald Trump returned to the Saturday Night Live stage for the first time since 2004._  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Nov 8, 2015 5:38 AM UTC Donald Trump returned to the Saturday Night Live stage for the first time since 2004.  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Nov 8, 2015 5:38 AM UTC Donald Trump used an appearance on _Saturday Night Live_ to make the case that he can take a joke, standing next to his impersonators and even lightly sending up protests of the show. The Republican presidential candidate’s second hosting gig on the long-running sketch show was marred by protests from Hispanic groups around the country that protested remarks he had made about undocumented immigrants since launching his campaign in June. One group, the Deport Racism PAC, [even offered $5,000](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/259139-latino-group-offers-5k-to-call-trump-racist-on-snl) to any audience member who would disrupt the show by yelling “Trump is a racist.” In the most pointed response on the show, Trump found his monologue interrupted by a heckler. But it turned out to be comedian Larry David, who was on the show to play Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. “I heard if I yelled that they’d give me $5,000,” David shrugs. “As a businessman I can fully respect that,” Trump replies. During the monologue, Trump also tried to present himself as self-aware, cracking jokes about his own ego. “A lot of people are saying Donald, you’re the most amazing guy,” Trump began. “You’re brilliant, you’re handsome, you’re rich, you have everything going for you, the world is waiting or you to be president, so why are you hosting Saturday Night Live? The answer is I have really nothing better to do.” Trump was then joined onstage by his two impersonators, Taran Killam and Saturday Night Live alum Darrell Hammond, wearing matching red ties and blonde wigs. “They’re great,” the real Trump said. “They don’t have my talent, my money or especially my good looks. But you know what, they’re not bad.” Trump’s stint hosting the iconic variety show has been hugely controversial, drawing protests from prominent Hispanic groups around the country and multiple speeches on the floor of the House by members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The protests center on inflammatory remarks Trump has made about the Hispanic community since his campaign launch in June, when he said many undocumented Mexican immigrants were rapists. The earlier controversy led NBC to cut ties with Trump over the show “The Apprentice,” which he starred on for more than a decade. **Read More:** [_Donald Trump’s Saturday Night Live Protests Grow_](http://time.com/4089468/donald-trump-saturday-night-live-protests/) ### See Donald Trump on SNL Over the Years  The 'Saturday Night Live' skit 'A Trump Christmas' featured Phil Hartman as Donald Trump and Jan Hooks as Ivana Trump on Dec. 10, 1988. Raymond Bonar—NBC/Getty Images  Darrell Hammond played Donald Trump during the "Donald Trump's Address" skit on Jan. 10, 2004. Mary Ellen Matthews—NBC/Getty Images  Donald Trump hosted 'Saturday Night Live' on April 3, 2004\. He appeared in the 'Donald Trump's House of Wings' sketch with Amy Poehler, Kenan Thompson, Seth Meyers and Maya Rudolph. Mary Ellen Matthews—NBC/Getty Images  Darrell Hammond as Donald Trump, right, appears with Donald Trump as Jerry the Janitor in the SNL sketch 'The Prince and the Pauper' on April 3, 2004. Mary Ellen Matthews—NBC/Getty Images  Darrell Hammond and Paris Hilton appeared as Donald Trump and Malania Knauss during "The New Trump Family" skit on Feb. 5, 2005. Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images  SNL's 'Domino's Ad Shoot' skit from May 7, 2005, featured Darrell Hammond as Donald Trump. Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images  Comedian Darrell Hammond appeared as Donald Trump during the skit 'Trump's Press Conference' on Jan. 13, 2007. Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images  The SNL skit 'Trump Steaks' featured Darrell Hammond as Donald Trump and Molly Shannon as Melania Knauss on May 12, 2007. Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images  Comedians Taran Killam, as Donald Trump, and Cecily Strong, as Melania Trump, appeared in the sketch 'Trump Cold Open' on Oct. 3, 2015. Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images ## Transcript They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists, and some, I assume are good people. After these comments in June, it was questionable if NBC can handle the return of Donald Trump to the Saturday Night Live stage. Trump by himself caused protest outside the studio, but what about three Donald Trumps? They're great. They don't have my talents, my money, or especially my good looks. The GOP presidential hopeful hosted SNL for the first time since 2004 appearing only a few months after NBC cut ties with him. But for all outlandish comments Trump's known to make, he's not afraid to laugh at himself in the most Trumpish ways possible. Mr. President, I'm so sorry to interrupt, we've got a very big problem. What is it? it's the American people, sir. What? They're just sick of winning. They're winning so much. Sia was the musical guest for the night, performing her hits Birds Set Free and Alive. 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