Trump Auditions Hannibal Lecter As Running Mate In ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cold Open

On Saturday Night Live‘s cold open over the weekend, Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, auditioned fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter as his vice presidential running mate. Trump addressed a crowd outside the mock Manhattan courthouse where his hush-money trial is taking place.

“I don’t like being in court because they say very mean things about me while I am trying to sleep,” Johnson’s Trump said. The real Trump’s legal team had to find ways to keep the former president awake during his New York trial.

The former president spoke about the trial from the barricades outside the courthouse, referred to as “Trump’s new home,” and thanked the crowd for visiting him at his “cage at the zoo.”

His monologue turned to Trump’s potential vice presidential pick for the upcoming election. “I have invited a few names from my short bus—I mean, my shortlist—to come to court and do a little dance for me. They’re supposed to be running the country, but instead, they’re sitting in porn court, hoping I’ll smile at them.”

Devon Walker and Heidi Gardner appeared as Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Gov. Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota), respectively. Gardner’s Noem held a gun to a plush dog, referencing Noem’s controversial confession to killing her 14-month-old puppy, Cricket.

In the skit, Trump claims his “favorite choice” vice presidential pick was Hannibal Lecter, a fictional serial killer. Trump was previously criticized for praising the character in a speech about migrants.

“He’s a wonderful man,” Trump said. “Remember the last scene?”

After Johnson introduced Lecter, Michael Longfellow was wheeled out in a stretcher and straightjacket, dressed as the serial killer.

“I keep calling him ‘late and great’ even though he’s not dead, he’s not great, and he’s not real,” Johnson said. “But I think he would really scare everybody at the border.”

Trump later dismissed Lecter, comparing him to former Vice President Mike Pence. Pence previously stated he would not endorse Trump in the upcoming election. Although Johnson’s version of Trump brought up several names to fill the spot of VP, the real Trump has yet to give any definitive answers.