Donald Trump Hosts ‘SNL,’ Fends Off Mock Heckler During Monologue

Donald Trump hadn’t gotten
far into his opening monologue before trouble occurred. An off-screen heckler
interrupted with a cry of “You’re a racist!”

But the “heckler”
was comedian Larry David, who before Trump arrived onstage had been seen
impersonating Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders.

“Larry, what are you
doing?” Trump asked with a trace of exasperation.

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“I heard if I yelled
that, they’d give me $5,000,” said David with a shrug, echoing an offer
made publicly by one of the Hispanic groups protesting Trump’s appearance.

“As a
businessman,” Trump told him, “I can fully respect that.”

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Trump’s 90 minutes in the
“SNL” spotlight followed weeks of growing anticipation, increasingly
sharp criticism and mounting calls for him to be dropped from the show. But the
Republican presidential candidate hosted Saturday’s “SNL” as
scheduled. And, at least in NBC’s Studio 8H, there was no more unrest –
orchestrated or otherwise.

Only hours after the show’s
broadcast, Trump was back on television and characteristically bullish about
his performance, calling it “very well received and probably got very good
ratings, who knows.”

He also told CNN’s
“State of the Union” that some sketches were cut because there were
“a little risqué.” He did not go into details.

During his monologue, Trump
promised his hosting appearance would be “something special,” while
noting that many people had asked him why he accepted the gig. He said they had
told him, “You’re brilliant, you’re handsome, you’re rich. The world is
waiting for you to be president. Why?”

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His answer: “I had
nothing better to do.”

“But part of the
reason I’m here,” he added, “is to show I can take a joke.”

In one sketch, Trump was
willing to mock his penchant for tweeting insults about people with whom he
differs.

“I hate to break it to
you guys,” he told viewers, “but I’m not going to be in the next
sketch.” Instead, off-camera, he live-tweeted comments that were flashed
on the screen about “SNL” cast members performing a skit:

“Cecily Strong is not
a nice person.”

“Kate McKinnon was
born stupid.”

“I love SNL … SNL
loves me. But everyone in this sketch is a total loser who can bite my
dust.”

Another sketch imagined
Trump in the Oval Office in 2018 – two years into his presidency – savoring his
many successes.

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By then, Syria is at peace.
China is borrowing money from the U.S. Trump’s real-life daughter, Ivanka, is
the administration’s secretary of the interior, and announces the Washington
Monument will be covered with gold.

Did it all sound too good
to be possible?

“If you think that’s
how it’s going to be when I’m president, you’re wrong. It’s going to be even
better,” Trump said, addressing the audience. “I said to the writers
of this sketch, ‘Keep it modest.'” His preference, he insisted, was to
keep expectations low for his presidency and not overpromise.

Until Saturday, just eight
politicians had served as guest hosts in the NBC sketch comedy series’ 40
years. Only one of those – the Rev. Al Sharpton, in 2003 – was actively
involved in a presidential bid at the time. (Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared in
last month’s season premiere, but not as the host.)

The star turn granted Trump
fanned the flames of outrage sparked in June when he announced his Republican
candidacy for president and described some Mexicans who are in the United
States illegally as criminals and rapists.

Hours before the show’s
11:30 p.m. EST Saturday start time, dozens of protesters marched from Trump
Tower to NBC’s studio in Rockefeller Plaza, chanting in both English and
Spanish and carrying signs. In Spanish, they chanted: “The people united
shall never be defeated” and signs declared SNL racist.

“I feel like they’re
giving him a platform,” said Hazel Hernandez, 26, who emigrated from El
Salvador and now lives in Brooklyn. “I’m an immigrant myself, so I’m
pretty outraged. I’ve been in this country for many years, and I’m outraged
that they would let him host SNL. It’s upsetting.”

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Trump’s comments last
summer spurred NBC to sever its Miss Universe ties with him while declaring he
would never return to his “Apprentice” role. But leading up to
Saturday’s broadcast, NBC did not respond to accusations that it had reversed
itself, or to the outcry against Trump that had built since “SNL”
announced his host booking last month.

Typically outspoken, Trump
welcomed the controversy, predicting it would only boost his audience.

It wasn’t Trump’s first
turn as guest host. The billionaire developer and media personality presided in
April 2004, a few weeks after he debuted as host of NBC’s “The
Apprentice.”

This time, while Trump
demonstrated once again that he could take a joke, he was running for
president. The sketches – both with and without him – seldom let the audience
forget it. 

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