Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
SNL Cold Open: Alec Baldwin's Trump Says He's A 'Serial Tape-ist'
By
Jen Chung
Published May 14, 2017
Modified May 14, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published May 14, 2017
Modified May 14, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Right after President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday, NBC News anchor Lester Holt interviewed the president, who complained, "[Comey's] a showboat, he's grandstander, the FBI has been in turmoil." For its cold open, Saturday Night Live offered up part two of the interview, with Alec Baldwin's Trump admitting, "I fired [Comey] because of Russia. I thought, he’s investigating Russia, I don’t like that, I should fire him."
Holt, played by Michael Che, responded, "You're admitting that? But that's obstruction of justice... Did I get him? Is this all over?" Then "Holt" finds out from a producer, "No I didn't? Nothing matters? Absolutely nothing matters anymore?"
Trump, played by Baldwin, even confessed, "I tape a lot of people. I tape whoever I want, whenever I want. Some people have called me a serial tape-ist and it's true, I am."
Before Baldwin's Trump launched into his discussion about Comey, he said, "I won this election fair and square... It's one of my favorite hits, and my fans love when I play the hits. It's like when you go to a Beyoncé concert—they want to hear only 'Single Ladies' and not that 'Sandcastles' crap, OK?"
There was a cameo from House Speaker Paul Ryan, played by Mikey Day, wearing an ice cream shoppe worker uniform, to offer two scoops of ice cream to "Trump," who later discussed inventing the phrase "priming the pump." But Che's Holt brought it back to Comey's dismissal, asking that the president, "Can you just reassure us all that you're not going to pick someone crazy like Judge Judy" to replace Comey.
"I can promise you this right now, whoever I chose is going to be so bonkers you’re going to wish like hell it was Judge Judy, okay?" Baldwin's Trump replied.
Then "Holt" begged him to think about the optics, "Every single day, it's something nuts. Your presidency is like the craziest show on TV and it's on 24 hours a day. We can't keep up."
"Too bad because this show is going to run for eight years—even though it should have been canceled months ago," Baldwin as Trump said. "We have plenty of fun plot twists coming up. A lot of your favorite characters will be coming back ... Kim Jong un, Carter Page ... I don’t want to give away too much, but in an upcoming episode we will find out that Kellyanne has been dead this whole time."
Tagged
alec baldwin
donald trump
james comey
michael che
saturday night live
snl
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Published Oct 8, 2026
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
By
Sonia Rao
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
By
Alec Hamilton
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .