Lorne Michaels Claims New Season of Saturday Night Live Will ‘Reinvent’ Portrayal of Trump

(Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels said he will “reinvent” former President Donald Trump’s portrayal in the upcoming 50th season of his comedy show.

“I think we have the people to play [the candidates], and it should be fun. And Trump has morphed,” Michaels told The Hollywood Reporter this week ahead of Saturday Night Live debuting its new season on September 28.

James Austin Johnson will be returning to the role of Trump, according to Michaels. The role was for years played by outspoken Democrat actor Alec Baldwin. The performance drew plenty of attacks of Trump while he was in office.

“One of the great parts of show business is that you can’t come back with the same show,” Michaels said. “So, all of these characters have to be reexamined, and if it makes sense and feels relevant, you know you’re on the right track.”

Johnson, Michaels said, played Trump like a “diminished Trump.”

“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,” the producer said.

Michaels also said during the interview that a past statement he made about Democrats being more sensitive to satirical bits on SNL than Republicans continues to hold true today.

“Yes. And it’s not personal in the sense of an attack, it’s just, you did say that and you did do that, so were you thinking it would be rude for us to comment on it? That’s what we do, and we’re going to do it again,” he said.