In a lively twist on the final Saturday Night Live episode before the upcoming election, Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance alongside her SNL impersonator, Maya Rudolph, sparking cheers and laughter in a skit that brought humor and a dash of politics to the weekend spotlight.
The scene began with Rudolph, in character as Harris, jokingly lamenting the challenges of being a Black, South Asian woman in high office. “I wish I could talk to someone who’s been in my shoes,” Rudolph said, only to be met with the real Harris, who was seated across from her at the table. In a burst of audience applause, Harris replied warmly, “You and me both, sister.”
As the skit unfolded, the two bantered back and forth, with Rudolph poking fun at Harris’ distinctive laugh. When the real Harris asked, “I don’t really laugh like that, do I?” Rudolph, staying in character, responded playfully, “A little bit.” The light-hearted scene was filled with rhyming wordplay, with the pair making up phrases around Harris’ name like “drama-la” and “pajama-las,” drawing laughs as they imagined a “promise of America” with “a cool new step mom-ala.”
But the comedy had a pointed undertone. At one moment, Harris quipped about her opponent, former President Donald Trump, remarking, “I’m just here to remind you, you got this. Because you can do something your opponent cannot do. You can open doors.” This jab referenced a recent moment at a Trump rally, where he spoke to reporters from a garbage truck. SNL used the truck and a sanitation vest in the skit, alluding to Biden’s suggestion that Trump supporters were “garbage,” fueling the satire even more.
The skit drew a quick response from the Trump campaign, which dismissed Harris’ appearance as “cosplaying with her elitist friends on Saturday Night Leftists.” A Trump campaign spokesperson criticized Harris, claiming she had “nothing substantive to offer” and asserting that the appearance was merely “a warped fantasy” as her campaign “spirals down the drain.”
The cameo also raised concerns at the FCC. Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr commented on social media, labeling the appearance a “clear and blatant effort” to sidestep the Equal Time rule. This FCC rule is designed to prevent broadcasters from giving an unfair advantage to any candidate by ensuring equal airwave access during election campaigns. Carr’s post sparked debate about whether SNL had crossed a line with Harris’ last-minute cameo.
Notably, SNL has a long-standing tradition of bringing in political figures for satire and special appearances. Over the years, figures from both parties, including Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, and Trump himself, have appeared on the show during election seasons, often using humor to connect with the public. Trump, in fact, hosted SNL in both 2004 and 2015, years before and during his run for president, showcasing SNL’s broad approach to political comedy.
The episode featured yet another political guest, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, who was lampooned as part of a game show skit where contestants struggled to recognize him.
As the show wrapped up, the skit ended with Rudolph, as Harris, proclaiming, “I’m going to vote for us,” to which the real Harris slyly replied, “Great. Any chance you’re registered in Pennsylvania?” While Rudolph’s character admitted she wasn’t, the moment struck a chord, showing a blend of humor, relatability, and political edge—hallmarks of SNL’s pre-election commentary.
As always, SNL’s season finale didn’t shy away from poking fun, blending humor with real-world commentary. With Tuesday’s election fast approaching, Harris’ cameo proved to be a memorable—and divisive—moment in political satire.