Taran Killam thinks it’s “shameful” that Donald Trump hosted “Saturday Night Live” back in 2015.
“It was rough. It was not enjoyable at the time and something that only grows more embarrassing and shameful as time goes on,” Killam, 35, told NPR.
“We could hear the protests during our table read,” Killam said. “As we’re reading 40 mediocre sketches, we just hear, ‘No Trump! Donald Trump!’ … I am embarrassed, upon reflection, just because of how everyone was right. Every person outside of that building protesting was absolutely right.”
While Killam, who exited “SNL” after its 42nd season, didn’t enjoy the 71-year-old’s turn as host he doesn’t think the decision to have him on was a political one.
“I don’t think the intention of having him on was ever politically based. I sincerely believe that. But I don’t think it was considered, the implications that it had then and could have moving forward,” Killam admitted.
Killam, who said that “there’s nothing good I can take from that week,” also noted that it wasn’t a sketch or the monologue he remembers most from that week with Trump, rather it was a conversation he witnessed at the host dinner.
“[Trump] says [to SNL creator Lorne Michaels], ‘You know, Lorne, if I don’t win this thing, I’m gonna be fine. We just bought this beautiful piece of property in Scotland. If I have to be president, I’m never gonna see that thing,'” Killam remembered. “And that that was his priority in that moment, that that was even a consideration, made me sad.”
Killam — who also discussed his “Hamilton” run and his latest project, “Killing Gunther” — commented on the anti-Trump pivot “SNL” has made in more recent episodes.
“It certainly feels like there’s some hypocrisy there. I guess you could say, ‘Oh, they’re righting wrongs.’ And I don’t even think it’s righting wrongs. I think the show tries to — and in particular, Lorne’s outlook is — play to both sides. Play to the masses, play to whatever the popular opinion is,” he said. “But, boy, they could definitely mine some comedy out of owning up to it, huh?”