Sophie Thomas has been covering culture and style for many years. She lives in Southern California.
February 17 , 2025
New York - President Donald Trump has expressed frustration after apparently being snubbed from the highly anticipated Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary celebration. According to sources close to Trump, the former president believes that his notable hosting appearance in 2015, which saw the highest viewership in SNL history, should have earned him a prominent role in the milestone event.
Trump’s 2015 hosting stint, which coincided with the early stages of his presidential campaign, set an SNL record for the highest-rated episode in the show's long and storied run. The episode, which featured Trump delivering a fiery monologue that made headlines for its sharp commentary on the political landscape, was watched by 24 million viewers—a feat that remains unchallenged to this day.
“Trump made history with that appearance," said one of his advisors. "He brought in record-breaking ratings, so it’s no surprise he’s disappointed that he wasn’t invited to take part in the celebration. He helped keep Saturday Night Live relevant for a new generation of viewers. It seems like a massive oversight.”
Sources claim that Trump, known for his combative rhetoric and belief in his unparalleled popularity, took particular issue with the fact that other celebrity figures, including politicians and actors, who have hosted the show over the years, were included in the SNL50 festivities—while he was not.
While the SNL team has not made an official comment on Trump’s apparent exclusion, insiders suggest the decision was motivated by a desire to distance the show from political figures amid its celebrations of five decades of comedy. “It's a celebration of the show, not necessarily the people who’ve hosted over the years,” said one SNL staff member, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “The show's direction is focused on the artists and the performers who made the sketches legendary, not necessarily the politics of any one individual.”
Still, Trump remains adamant that his historic SNL hosting appearance, which saw him deliver a headline-making monologue laced with jabs at both political parties, remains an indelible moment in SNL's legacy.
“That monologue got more views than most of the seasons combined. I made SNL what it is today,” Trump remarked in a statement. “If they had any sense, they’d be celebrating that."
The tension between Trump and the SNL team seems likely to continue as the former president maintains a sharp eye on any media opportunity that could align with his political persona.
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