NBC recently released a promo across social media platforms announcing that Alec Baldwin will join SNL as its new Donald Trump in its upcoming season.
It was this summer that SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels decided to cast Baldwin in the part of Trump, The Hollywood Reporter revealed. After Baldwin officially signed on earlier this week, he taped a promo that debuted on social media on Wednesday which featured himself as Trump and Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton.
It is fitting that both Baldwin and Trump were previously stars of NBC primetime shows; Baldwin on 30 Rock and Trump famously on The Apprentice/Celebrity Apprentice.
Baldwin is no newcomer to SNL. He has guest-hosted the show a whopping 16 times since his debut appearance in 1990. Throughout his time at SNL, he has done more than a dozen celebrity impressions: Al Pacino, Bono, Harvey Fierstein, Tony Bennett, Marlon Brando, and former Republican candidate Gov. Rick Perry.
His wide repertoire of impressions is impressive but this will be Baldwin’s first time playing Trump. On SNL’s last season, Trump was played by Darrell Hammond, a onetime cast member. Before Hammond, Taran Killam played Trump; Killam’s contract was not picked up for SNL’s upcoming season.
Margot Robbie will host SNL’s Oct. 1 premiere and The Weeknd will be the musical guest. On Oct. 8, Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda will just happen to be in the greatest city in the world and host SNL, with Twenty One Pilots performing.