🎭Best Political Impressions on SNL

Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump▲ Rising

Baldwin’s Trump debuted in 2016 and quickly became the defining impression of the Trump era. His sneering delivery and repetitive catchphrases turned every cold open into must-watch television. The bit earned Baldwin an Emmy and kept SNL ratings high through multiple seasons.

Impressionist: Alec BaldwinPolitician: Donald TrumpDebut Year: 2016Performances: 45Impact: 9.4/10

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Tina Fey as Sarah Palin▲ Rising

Fey’s Palin in 2008 captured the vice-presidential candidate’s folksy cadence and gaffes with surgical precision. The “I can see Russia from my house” line became national shorthand overnight. It remains the gold standard for campaign-season impressions.

Impressionist: Tina FeyPolitician: Sarah PalinDebut Year: 2008Performances: 13Impact: 9.6/10

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Dana Carvey as George H. W. Bush▲ Rising

Carvey’s stiff, catchphrase-heavy Bush (“wouldn’t be prudent”) became the definitive early-90s impression. His 1992 debate with Perot and Clinton impressions helped carry the show during a weak ratings period.

Impressionist: Dana CarveyPolitician: George H. W. BushDebut Year: 1987Performances: 42Impact: 8.9/10

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Will Ferrell as George W. Bush▲ Rising

Ferrell turned Bush’s verbal stumbles into a lovable, dim-bulb frat-boy character that ran for years. His 2000 debate sketch with Darrell Hammond’s Gore set the template for modern political cold opens. The impression stayed popular long after Bush left office.

Impressionist: Will FerrellPolitician: George W. BushDebut Year: 2000Performances: 35Impact: 9.2/10

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Jay Pharoah as Barack Obama▲ Rising

Pharoah nailed Obama’s even cadence and subtle side-eye, giving the president a cool, unflappable presence. His slow-burn delivery made debate sketches feel like real events.

Impressionist: Jay PharoahPolitician: Barack ObamaDebut Year: 2010Performances: 30Impact: 8.3/10

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Phil Hartman as Bill Clinton▲ Rising

Hartman’s slick, saxophone-playing Clinton mixed charm with shamelessness and dominated the 90s. His McDonald’s drive-thru sketch remains one of SNL’s most quoted political bits.

Impressionist: Phil HartmanPolitician: Bill ClintonDebut Year: 1992Performances: 28Impact: 9/10

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Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford

Chase turned Ford’s minor stumbles into a running gag of spectacular clumsiness that defined the president’s image for a generation. It launched SNL’s political impression tradition in the mid-70s.

Impressionist: Chevy ChasePolitician: Gerald FordDebut Year: 1975Performances: 18Impact: 8.5/10

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Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris

Rudolph captured Harris’s laugh and precise, sometimes awkward phrasing during the 2020 campaign and vice-presidency.

Impressionist: Maya RudolphPolitician: Kamala HarrisDebut Year: 2019Performances: 10Impact: 7.6/10

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Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton

McKinnon portrayed Clinton as a tightly wound, power-hungry survivor whose every move was calculated. Her post-election “Hallelujah” cold open became an instant cultural touchstone.

Impressionist: Kate McKinnonPolitician: Hillary ClintonDebut Year: 2015Performances: 22Impact: 8.8/10

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Dana Carvey as Ross Perot

Carvey’s Perot was a fast-talking, chart-wielding Texas billionaire whose debate sketches with Bush and Clinton became instant classics.

Impressionist: Dana CarveyPolitician: Ross PerotDebut Year: 1992Performances: 6Impact: 8.4/10

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Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton

Hammond took over Clinton after Hartman and leaned into the Arkansas drawl and fast-food cravings. He kept the impression alive through the late 90s and early 2000s.

Impressionist: Darrell HammondPolitician: Bill ClintonDebut Year: 1995Performances: 25Impact: 7.9/10

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Fred Armisen as Barack Obama

Armisen’s early Obama leaned on a stiff, professorial vibe before Pharoah took over. It captured the candidate phase well but was quickly eclipsed.

Impressionist: Fred ArmisenPolitician: Barack ObamaDebut Year: 2008Performances: 8Impact: 7.2/10

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Chris Rock as various 90s figures

Rock brought sharp, street-smart takes on figures like Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell that stood out for their edge.

Impressionist: Chris RockPolitician: Jesse JacksonDebut Year: 1990Performances: 7Impact: 7.5/10

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Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer

McCarthy’s explosive, podium-pounding Spicer became a surprise hit during the early Trump administration. The impression turned a press secretary into a larger-than-life comic figure.

Impressionist: Melissa McCarthyPolitician: Sean SpicerDebut Year: 2017Performances: 7Impact: 8.7/10

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Bill Hader as Jeff Sessions

Hader portrayed Sessions as a tiny, folksy racist with a high-pitched drawl that delighted audiences. The impression peaked during the Mueller investigation coverage.

Impressionist: Bill HaderPolitician: Jeff SessionsDebut Year: 2017Performances: 9Impact: 8.1/10

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Larry David as Bernie Sanders

David’s cranky, shouting Sanders became a late-series staple that perfectly captured the candidate’s outsider energy.

Impressionist: Larry DavidPolitician: Bernie SandersDebut Year: 2015Performances: 9Impact: 8.2/10

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Darrell Hammond as Donald Trump

Hammond played an early, more businesslike Trump in the 2000s before Baldwin’s version took over. It was solid but never reached the later intensity.

Impressionist: Darrell HammondPolitician: Donald TrumpDebut Year: 2004Performances: 11Impact: 6.9/10

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Jim Carrey as Joe Biden

Carrey brought a loose, gaffe-prone energy to Biden that felt both affectionate and chaotic. His 2020 debate sketches with Maya Rudolph’s Harris were highlights.

Impressionist: Jim CarreyPolitician: Joe BidenDebut Year: 2020Performances: 12Impact: 7.8/10

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Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter

Aykroyd’s earnest, cardigan-wearing Carter helped establish SNL’s presidential impression tradition in the late 70s.

Impressionist: Dan AykroydPolitician: Jimmy CarterDebut Year: 1977Performances: 9Impact: 7.3/10

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Taran Killam as Mitt Romney

Killam portrayed Romney as a stiff, wealthy everyman whose debate sketches with Obama were highlights of 2012.

Impressionist: Taran KillamPolitician: Mitt RomneyDebut Year: 2012Performances: 8Impact: 7.1/10

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Kenan Thompson as Al Sharpton

Thompson’s bombastic Sharpton brought high energy and memorable catchphrases during the 2004 campaign cycle.

Impressionist: Kenan ThompsonPolitician: Al SharptonDebut Year: 2003Performances: 6Impact: 6.8/10

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Mikey Day as Ron DeSantis

Day captured DeSantis’s awkward, robotic delivery during the 2022 midterms and 2024 primary season.

Impressionist: Mikey DayPolitician: Ron DeSantisDebut Year: 2022Performances: 7Impact: 6.5/10

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Nasim Pedrad as Nikki Haley▼ Falling

Pedrad gave Haley a polished, ambitious Southern edge during the 2016 primary sketches.

Impressionist: Nasim PedradPolitician: Nikki HaleyDebut Year: 2015Performances: 4Impact: 6.3/10

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Kristen Wiig as Michele Bachmann▼ Falling

Wiig turned Bachmann’s wide-eyed intensity and gaffe-prone speeches into memorable 2012 primary sketches.

Impressionist: Kristen WiigPolitician: Michele BachmannDebut Year: 2011Performances: 5Impact: 7/10

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Beck Bennett as Mike Pence▼ Falling

Bennett played Pence as a quiet, intensely loyal straight man to Baldwin’s Trump with subtle religious undertones.

Impressionist: Beck BennettPolitician: Mike PenceDebut Year: 2016Performances: 15Impact: 7.4/10

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Bobby Moynihan as Chris Christie▼ Falling

Moynihan portrayed Christie as a loud, bridge-obsessed everyman during the 2016 cycle.

Impressionist: Bobby MoynihanPolitician: Chris ChristieDebut Year: 2015Performances: 5Impact: 6.7/10

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