Donald Trump’s relationship with NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” has been complex, especially after he accused the show of creating “Republican hit jobs” during his initial term as president.

However, many individuals involved with “SNL” felt they played a role in his election victory.

Trump made an appearance as host of “SNL” in November 2015, just five months after declaring his intention to run for president. Following his victory over Hillary Clinton a year later, a troubling question lingered among the show’s crew at Studio 8H: Did Trump’s hosting serve as an endorsement for his campaign?

This idea is elaborated in a forthcoming biography titled “Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live,” focused on Lorne Michaels, 80, who founded “SNL” in 1975 and still serves as its top producer.

Written by Susan Morrison, an editor at The New Yorker, the book draws on ten years of interviews with Michaels and various cast and crew members from the show.

Did ‘SNL’ play a role in Donald Trump’s presidential win?

The concept that “SNL” may have helped make a polarizing Republican candidate more acceptable is surprising. As Morrison notes in her book (set to release on February 18), nearly everyone involved with the show in 2015 leaned Democratic.

Michaels and his team often faced claims of liberal bias, such as when they included a cameo by Democratic nominee Kamala Harris right before the 2024 election. Nevertheless, Morrison highlights that former “SNL” cast members previously believed their work contributed to George W. Bush’s win in 2000.

Shifting back to Trump, Morrison points out that after the 2016 election, the “SNL” cast and writers felt a mixture of shame and anger. Many believed that the show held some responsibility for his election. Celebrating its 50 years, “SNL” opts for celebrity hosts each episode, and Trump’s previous hosting was back in April 2004, around the time his reality show, “The Apprentice,” was gaining traction.

Trump’s second hosting appearance was markedly different. He was now a presidential candidate, although many analysts considered his chances of winning to be far-fetched. “When Michaels booked Trump in 2015, like many others, he viewed the candidacy as a big joke,” Morrison notes. “But it was a profitable joke. Trump attracted viewers: people were eager to see him, whether due to his outrageousness or in spite of it.”

After Trump made inflammatory comments about Mexican immigrants, NBC severed business ties with him. A coalition representing Hispanic interests called for a boycott of the episode he was set to host, and staff members perceived the broadcast as an implicit endorsement, according to the author.

Despite this, Michaels believed it was essential for “SNL” to maintain a balanced perspective. He encouraged his writers and performers to satirize candidates from all political backgrounds. “It’s been challenging for me to communicate to this younger generation that the show operates without partisanship,” Michaels explained regarding his staff.

‘SNL’ insiders: Lorne Michaels aimed to portray Trump as ‘likable’

When Trump arrived for his 2015 hosting, he immediately annoyed the cast and writers by taking a phone call during the script read-through, as angry demonstrations occurred outside.

Many team members felt that “SNL” was too lenient with Trump. Michaels often asked the writers to tone down sharper sketches. At one brainstorming session, writer and performer Tim Robinson expressed his frustration, stating, “Lorne has lost his  mind, and someone needs to shoot him in the back of the head.”

This behind-the-scenes discontent has been discussed before, but not in such depth. Taran Killam, who portrayed Trump on “SNL” in 2015, revealed in a podcast that Michaels was focused on making Trump appear “likable.”

By hosting “SNL,” Trump was able to convey that he understood the satire, claiming he could handle jokes directed at him. The writers worked to ensure he came off favorably, which is part of their responsibility.

During his opening monologue, Trump stated, “Many people are saying, ‘Donald, you’re incredible. You’re smart, you’re attractive, you’re wealthy, you have everything. The world is ready for you to be president. So why are you hosting ’Saturday Night Live’?’ And the answer is, I have nothing better to do.”

In hindsight, Michaels believed Trump’s pre-election appearance went well. He recounted that both cast member Kate McKinnon and guest performer Larry David told him, “I really like the guy.”

Michaels rationalized Trump’s presence on the show to his inner circle, suggesting they were actually doing the candidate a disservice by giving him airtime. “We were signaling to the audience that this guy is actually going to be the candidate,” Michaels explained to his team.

‘Trump was delighted’ to learn Alec Baldwin would impersonate him on ‘SNL’

Months later, during the 2016 campaign, Michaels spoke on the phone with Trump and informed him that Alec Baldwin would be playing him that fall.

“Trump was delighted,” Morrison conveys regarding the casting news. However, once the season kicked off, Trump rapidly grew displeased with Baldwin’s impressions, which often drew his ire during his first term in office.

Trump’s reactions were unusual for a politician; generally, most public figures appear to appreciate humor at their expense, sometimes even collaborating with their impersonators.

Some of the impersonations—such as Dan Aykroyd’s take on Jimmy Carter and Dana Carvey’s George W.H. Bush—were exceptionally charming. According to Morrison, during the 2000 election, Michaels believed that his show gave George W. Bush, the Republican candidate, “a slight edge” against Democrat Al Gore in a close race, aided by Will Ferrell’s more relatable representation of Bush compared to a more stiff portrayal of Gore by Darrell Hammond.

The irony of either Michaels or “SNL” potentially aiding a Republican candidate in any election is a notable highlight in “Lorne,” especially considering the creators’ political leanings.

After the 2016 election, when the ensemble gathered for their first show post-election, the mood was somber, with some in tears. As Morrison recounts, Michaels reminded them that a significant portion of the country had supported Trump. “We have work to do,” he urged.

Those who believed the show had been “criminally soft” on Trump felt perplexed and irritated when Michaels remarked ambiguously, “We did our best.”

Daniel de Visé is a personal finance writer and author of The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic.