“Saturday Night Live” is being called out for a skit that closely resembles a 2015 “The Tonight Show” sketch where Donald Trump appeared alongside Jimmy Fallon’s impersonation of him.
In SNL’s November 2 episode, Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance alongside Maya Rudolph, who portrayed her in the skit. In both sketches, the real-life figures suddenly appeared in the mirror with their impersonators, using the same room setup and similar comedic timing as they offered self-advice.
Critics and viewers noticed the likeness and took to social media, with some labeling Harris’ cameo unoriginal and claiming the show relied on an old idea.
In SNL’s version, Rudolph’s Harris sits in a dressing room mirror, lamenting her challenges in the election campaign and saying she wishes she could talk to herself for advice. The real Harris then appears in the mirror, mimicking Rudolph’s mannerisms and voice inflections and humorously engaging in banter about the drama and intensity of the campaign.
The resemblance to the Trump and Fallon skit went viral, with viewers posting side-by-side comparisons of the two routines, highlighting the matching mirror setting and parallel joke structure.
The Trump campaign’s spokesperson further criticized Harris’ appearance, claiming she has few new ideas to offer.
Supporters of Trump pointed to this as an example of her “copying” Trump’s style in media appearances, linking it to what they feel are other similarities in policy ideas, including recent tax proposals.
Critics on social media also called Harris’ appearance a “last-ditch attempt” to gain appeal just days before the election, suggesting her cameo might serve as a publicity boost.
This is not the first time SNL has faced scrutiny for its sketches involving political figures, as the show often toes the line between satire and political commentary. In the skit’s closing, Harris and Rudolph signed off with the iconic line, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”