Alec Baldwin Makes Surprise Return to SNL—But Not as Donald Trump

Alec Baldwin is back on Saturday Night Live but not at his old job.

Sporting black hair, the actor, who for years played former President Donald Trump on the NBC series, appeared on the Oct. 19 episode as Fox News' Bret Baier in a cold open sketch parodying the journalist's recent interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, played by former cast member Maya Rudolph in a recurring role.

"Good evening, I'm Brett Baier," Baldwin's character began the skit, "and to clear the air, yes, I do look like someone made a businessman in Minecraft."

The actor's character repeatedly interrupts Rudolph's. "Tell us why the American people should vote for you," Baldwin's Baier says, to which the actress' Harris responds, "Because I have a plan."

"What is it?" he asks, and she replies, "Well, I'm trying to tell you."

Baldwin's character then says, "I'm trying to listen" and Rudolph's Harris said, "Then stop talking."

"I don't know how," he responds, prompting her to tell him, "Just. Just shut your mouth."

"That was fun, right?" he later declares. "I had fun. We're out of time. Thanks for joining me."

Baldwin, who previously made a cameo on SNL in November 2023, had played Trump—who is running against Harris in the upcoming U.S. election—on multiple episodes between 2016 and 2020 and won an Emmy for his role.

Cast member James Austin Johnson took over the part in 2021 and reprised his role on the most recent show, which was hosted by Michael Keaton, who starred with Baldwin in the 1988 film Beetlejuice.

Baldwin's most recent appearance on SNL comes three months after his involuntary manslaughter trial in connection to the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of their movie Rust was dismissed with prejudice.

"There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now," Baldwin wrote in response to the ruling an Instagram post July 13. "To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family."

The actor, a father of eight, is these days keeping busy with many acting projects. In July, it was announced that Baldwin is set to star with wife Hilaria Baldwin and their seven kids—Carmen, 11, Rafael Thomas, 9, Leonardo Ángel Charles, 8, Romeo Alejandro David, 6, and Eduardo "Edu" Pao Lucas, 4, María Lucía Victoria, 3, and Ilaria Catalina Irena, 2—in a TLC reality show. The series, tentatively titled The Baldwins, is due to air in 2025.

(E! and NBC are part of the NBCUniversal family.)

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