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title: Kate McKinnon Impersonates Hillary Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres
description: The two women were so impressed that they started vying for McKinnon&#x27;s affections, bartering with a trip to Camp David vs. a brand new Chevy Malibu.
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og:title: Watch Kate McKinnon Impersonate Hillary Clinton and Ellen DeGeneres to Their Faces
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# Watch Kate McKinnon Impersonate Hillary Clinton and Ellen DeGeneres to Their Faces

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by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


May 25, 2016 2:13 PM UTC

by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


May 25, 2016 2:13 PM UTC

On [_Saturday Night Live_](http://time.com/4211061/bernie-sanders-larry-david-saturday-night-live/?iid=sr-link9), Kate McKinnon plays both [Hillary Clinton](http://time.com/3920332/transcript-full-text-hillary-clinton-campaign-launch/?iid=sr-link3) and [Ellen DeGeneres](http://time.com/4339921/ellen-degeneres-pranks-scares-drake/), so when Clinton made an appearance on _The Ellen DeGeneres Show_, they invited her to do her impressions of them — to their faces.

The [_Ghostbusters_](http://time.com/4246216/ghostbusters-trailer/?iid=sr-link3) star effortlessly switched between impersonations of the two women, first taking on DeGeneres. “Thank you so much for spending your life fighting for the middle class, and for women, and for kids,” [McKinnon](http://time.com/4152597/kate-mckinnon-ghostbusters-poster/?iid=sr-link1) told Clinton in DeGeneres’ voice. “I’ve also spent my life fighting for kids, but I am talking about baby goats.”

She then switched to Clinton. “Every day we face hard choices like, which statement blazer to wear,” joked McKinnon, now as Clinton. “When I’m president I’ll make sure that every American has a fair shot to live up to his or her God-given potential to watch you dance!”

The two women were so impressed that they started vying for McKinnon’s affections, bartering with a trip to Camp David vs. a brand new Chevy Malibu. Tough one!

To see full episode of [_The Ellen DeGeneres Show_ ](http://time.com/4029174/justin-timberlake-ellen-degeneres-jimmy-fallon-lipsync-battle/?iid=sr-link5)with McKinnon and Clinton, tune in on Wednesday.

\[H/T [EW](http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/24/kate-mckinnon-ellen-hillary-clinton)\]

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