Lorne Michaels Weighs In On Who Will Play Donald Trump On ‘SNL’ Season 50

Saturday Night Live is gearing up for Season 50, and of course, prepping plenty of presidential election material. But who will take on Donald Trump this season?

Series creator Lorne Michaels and Weekend Update anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost spoke with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the sketch comedy show’s milestone 50th season.

During their conversation, Michaels was asked about who will be playing the former president and the 2024 Republican presidential candidate, as the reporter name-dropped current cast member James Austin Johnson and alum Alec Baldwin.

Michaels replied, “I think James will be there, but I don’t want to get into what I’m doing.

As for who will be portraying Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, Michaels played coy, only teasing that he “think[s they] have the people to play [the candidates] and it should be fun.”

“And Trump has morphed,” he added. “James, who I think is brilliant, played Trump as the sort of diminished Trump. The guy at the back of the hardware store holding court, and that played because it felt relevant. But we are going to have to reinvent it again because, well, you saw the debate.”

While Maya Rudolph is set to return as vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, there has been no official word on who will portray vice-presidential candidate and Minnesota governor Tim Walz. Steve Martin had joked about fans’ calls for him to assume the role, but he ultimately turned down the offer, telling the Los Angeles Times, “I wanted to say no and, by the way, [Michaels] wanted me to say no.”

“I said, ‘Lorne, I’m not an impressionist. You need someone who can really nail the guy,’” he explained. “I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses.”

Even Michaels, who told THR that he and Martin have “been very good friends for longer than you’ve been alive,” acknowledged that he was not the right fit.

“It’s not the thing he does,” he continued. “But there’s lots that he does that you’ll be seeing.”

On Wednesday (Sept. 18), the show announced the season’s first five pairs of hosts and musical guests, among them Jean Smart, Jelly Roll, Nate Bargatze, Coldplay, Ariana Grande, Stevie Nicks, Michael Keaton, Billie Eilish, John Mulaney and Chappell Roan.

Saturday Night Live Season 50 kicks off on Sept. 28 at 11:30 p.m. ET/ 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.