Top 30 Funniest SNL Political Impressions

Top 30 Funniest SNL Political Impressions

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most entertaining and hilarious impressions from the political sphere.

#30: Jon Lovitz as Michael Dukakis

When coming up against Dana Carvey’s George H. W. Bush, Jon Lovitz decided to compete with his co-star by using subtlety. His underrated take on the presidential candidate doesn’t steal the spotlight, but he does have an enjoyable way of staying cool. This comes out in a funny debate and the entertaining “Dukakis After Dark” sketch. He also gets to deliver the occasional one-liner that’s both accurate and hilarious. When he’s not revealing his amazing language skills, Lovitz also employs some killer eyebrows. While this actor usually plays broad comedy, this version of Governor Dukakis lets him show off his subdued acting abilities.

#29: Darrell Hammond as Al Gore

Some might have argued that Al Gore wasn’t an easy impression, but Darrell Hammond easily defied the odds with this performance. He practically disappears into the Vice President with his Southern accent. After watching his take on Gore at the first debate, you might come away laughing and muttering the word “lockbox” to yourself. He combines these catchphrases with crazy and outlandish sketches. Competing with Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush, Hammond delivers the goods as a long-winded version of the politician. The comedian battles Ferrell with a surprisingly goofy presence of his own as he even sings with his co-star.

#28: Cecily Strong as Marjorie Taylor Greene

In the hands of a versatile comedian like Cecily Strong, this political figure really comes alive. Marjorie Taylor Greene is not exactly the most guarded individual and the performer really makes that known. You could even call this impersonation crazy, down to everything from her love of guns to her hilarious sneezes. Strong’s take on Green delves into scientific issues and hot topics with a funny twist. You could also call her a fighter, getting aggressive about almost anything in an entertaining way. She even visits “Sesame Street” armed to the teeth in one skit. The impression doesn’t let up, with memorable and opinionated rants that’ll have you laughing.

#27: Chris Redd as Cory Booker

Even if this senator isn’t the most obvious target, he has a few qualities that Chris Redd utilizes for comedic effect. The actor leads with his eyes in order to steal the debate spotlight. Trying to stay hip, this Cory Booker works through his desperation in increasingly funny ways. Redd’s take on Booker looks like a deer in the headlights as he tries to make his limited time count. Capturing the comedy of a politician who can’t win, the comedian does an impressive job of earning laughs in only a few lines. The performer also plays him at committee hearings as he hopes to impress people. If this leader runs for president again, “SNL” should invite the actor back to talk about Rosario Dawson.

#26: Bill Hader as Jim Jordan

As one of the best impressionists in “SNL” history, Bill Hader is more than prepared to take on Jim Jordan. The congressman tries to question Michael Cohen without completely losing his mind. While turning up the volume, Hader makes this politician into a hilarious and hot-headed caricature. They even find time to make fun of the target’s wardrobe. With the other committee members giving him more time, Jordan keeps digging a hole for himself in amusing rants. The frequent mistakes and dead-end questioning allow the comedian to shine. Opposite Ben Stiller’s Cohen, the performer turns up the heat as the buffoonish character that can’t catch a break.

#25: Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton

Leading up to the 2008 election season, Amy Poehler found the comedy in Hillary Clinton. Her concept for the character revolves around her failed attempts to become president. Poehler also dials up Clinton’s passive-aggression for some amazing confrontations, the latter of which includes an amazing sketch with Tina Fey. Whether she’s talking to the Alaska governor or debating Obama, this character has some hilarious reactions to her defeats. The comedian plays the politician’s emotions like a high-wire act of hilarity. You don’t know whether this Clinton will laugh, scream, or cry at any moment. This all adds up to a wonderful piece of comedic acting, giving the actress one of her best impersonations.

#24: Chris Farley as Newt Gingrich

When the great Chris Farley did anything, he never gave anything less than 100%. This is especially true in the case of his off-the-wall Newt Gingrich impression. Infusing his explosive energy into every line, Farley couldn’t help but make the politician more hyper. His performance as the Speaker of the House features some brilliant comic timing and lots of gavel-banging. The comedian even plays Gingrich against his mother, seeing his more personal side with surprising results. It’s a funny and manic twist on the 1990s political figure. Through it all, the legendary performer never lets up with his wildly entertaining spin.

#23: Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton

As a go-to impressionist from his era, Darrell Hammond strikes again with one of his signature roles. Hammond had huge shoes to fill taking on the US president for the 1990s and early 2000s. His interpretation allowed him to be playful, mischievous, and charismatic all at the same time. The result was a fabulous sendup of Bill Clinton’s highs and lows, giving the commander-in-chief a humorous edge. Hammond’s performance plays with the charisma of the politician as well as the scandals of his later presidency. Even with all of the serious topics surrounding him, this Clinton flashes his smile and trademark mannerisms to get audiences laughing.

#22: James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump

In a long history of great Donald Trump impressions, James Austin Johnson might just be the most accurate. His vocal impersonation is so spot-on that it’s both scary and funny in equal measure. Along with getting the voice right, Johnson can also go on a trademark ramble as the politician. The stream-of-consciousness delivery makes for some truly hilarious segments that reference pop culture. The performer plays up the real man’s complexities, while also creating a character that’s completely absurd in every way. Thankfully, the impressionist finds enough comedy here to poke fun at the headlines and create his own stamp on the man.

#21: Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris

With the bubbly energy of Maya Rudolph, this Kamala Harris impression truly comes alive. It’s arguably the closest anyone has come to nailing the essence of the Vice President. The key to this impersonation is the leader’s insistence on being relevant. Using memes and internet slang, Rudolph’s version tries desperately to play with the younger crowds. It’s also impressive to see a new take on a much newer public figure that goes beyond the usual vocals. From Harris’ family life to her debates with Mike Pence, Rudolph captures the politician with physical and verbal comedy. The comedian lights up any appearance as the VP, walking the line between authentic and wonderfully campy.

#20: Matt Damon as Brett Kavanaugh

Sure, this may have been a once off impression. But Matt Damon surprised everyone with how well he nailed Judge Brett Cavanaugh's defensive demeanour during his high profile sexual misconduct hearing in 2018. The cold open sequence was certainly an ensemble piece, but the whole thing hinged upon how well Damon could deliver an impression of someone who was growing more and more irritated at a line of questioning. Eventually, the performance reached the crescendo of Damon shotgun-ing a beer before starting the show proper, kicking things off in note-perfect fashion.

#19: Fred Armisen as Michael Bloomberg

You don't always have to be running at two hundred percent to deliver laughs on the SNL stage. Sometimes, a little bit of subtlety goes a long way. This was definitely the case when it came to Fred Armisen's portrayal of former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. Armisen’s low-energy delivery was on purpose and on point. His semi-mumbling inflection was perfectly paired with Bobby Moynihan's volatile Chris Christie during a sketch about Hurricane Sandy. Armisen's return to the character during the 2020 US Presidential Race was similarly spot on.

#18: Will Ferrell as Janet Reno

Consider this one something of a forgotten gem when it comes to “SNL” political impressions. Former Attorney General Janet Reno wasn't exactly known as the life of the party when she served under President Bill Clinton, but you wouldn't know that if you just paid attention to Will Ferrell's impersonation. It didn't matter that Ferrell wasn't spot when it came to capturing her on a personal level. It was more about the idea of Reno in something as ridiculous as, say, a boxing match with Rudy Giuliani that made it funny. Plus, Ferrell's deadpan delivery and purse-lipped dialogue delivers giggles on their own.

#17: Beck Bennett as Vladimir Putin

Sometimes the easiest, most direct approach is best for comedic impersonations. Or, at least this seems to be the case when it comes to Beck Bennett, who absolutely nails his parody of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Bennett goes full tilt into James Bond villain mode here, portraying him as a devious, confident and self obsessed megalomaniac who never wears a shirt if he doesn't have to. Of course, it helps that Bennett has the look and facial expressions to pull it off - not to mention nailing Putin's manner-of-speech to hilarious effect.

#16: Norm Macdonald as Bob Dole

Norm Macdonald is a comedian's comedian; a man who has earned both respect from his peers and laughs from the audience. “SNL” fans were certainly laughing back when Macdonald was playing former presidential candidate and Senator Bob Dole on the show. Norm made it a point to emphasize Dole's habit of referring to himself in the third person, while also capturing Dole's pencil-holding, deadpan delivery. Macdonald was surly and grumpy, yet remarkably charismatic in his performance as Dole, and it's something we're still laughing at today.

#15: Kate McKinnon as Jeff Sessions

You can always count on Kate McKinnon to deliver a great impression. The gifted comedian just seems to have honed her talent at commanding accents, as well as her subject's personal idiosyncrasies. McKinnon is also just as accomplished at transformation, as evidenced by her multiple political impressions of subjects as varied as Kellyanne Conway, Rudy Giuliani and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It's her take on former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions that had us rolling, however, thanks to the exaggerated Southern accent as well as Sessions' reportedly sycophantic relationship with President Trump. It didn't matter whether McKinnon was portraying Sessions on "Weekend Update" or parodying "Forrest Gump," her impression was always solid gold.

#14: Jim Carrey as Joe Biden

What can we say? Joe Biden just seemed tailor made for an SNL political impression, as evidenced by the numerous cast members and guest hosts who tried their hand at the former Vice President. Jason Sudeikis, Woody Harrelson and John Mulaney all did killer jobs with their respective impersonations. But our pick here is Jim Carrey, who’s portrayed Biden in a recurring role. Although not everyone saw the real Biden in Carrey’s energetic interpretation, we’ve got to give it up for Carrey's inner monologue during debate sketches with Baldwin's Trump. We love the machismo Joe; the exasperated candidate who's down for push up contests, name calling, and tagging in Kamala Harris to intervene on his behalf.

#13: Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford

Former President Gerald Ford was always athletic, but all it took was one stumble out of Air Force One to earn a reputation for clumsiness. This served as a perfect opportunity for SNL to cement their very first iconic political impression with Chevy Chase's classic, fan favorite portrayal. Chase took his physical comedy to the very limit, utilizing elaborate pratfalls to the point of actual injury, all to get a laugh. It worked, to the point where even the President himself was a fan, appearing on the show and even inviting Chase out to play golf!

#12: Darrell Hammond as Dick Cheney

Darrell Hammond is a master of impressions, and has successfully tried his luck impersonating a number of political figures during his tenure at “SNL.” However, it's Hammond's take on former Vice President Dick Cheney that stands alongside his Bill Clinton as one of the comedian's most well-known parodies. Hammond hams it up and does his best to play with Cheney's public persona as the evil puppet mastermind behind the George W. Bush administration, while getting a lot of laughs in the process. That sneaky snarl, those side-eye glances, it's all part of Hammond's hilarious take on a polarizing man.

#11: Jay Pharoah as Barack Obama

It was Fred Armisen who first took aim at Barack Obama with his unique and slightly strange impression. But that performance was certainly improved upon once Jay Pharoah took over the role. Pharoah easily ticks all of the boxes when it comes to capturing Obama's cadence, phrasing and manner of speech, while at the same time capturing that certain level of political swagger the former president has. Jay Pharoah is a skilled comedian and impressionist, but this might be some of his best work.

#10: Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump


With his recurring impersonation of Donald Trump, guest star Alec Baldwin became a sort of de-facto cast member. Alec Baldwin earned rave reviews and laughs when he parodied The Donald on the campaign trail, so it made sense that the award-winning actor would return to the role once Trump took office. Baldwin nails a funny and exaggerated take on many of Trump's well known personal quirks and mannerisms, and never shies away from tackling the more controversial topics that were at the center of news outlets during the president's campaign.

#9: Will Ferrell as George W. Bush

Don’t worry, we’ll get to Bush Senior later in the list. Will Ferrell first introduced his Dubya impersonation in 1999, to wild reviews. Presenting Bush Junior as naive, simple, and in over his head, Ferrell lampooned the President while also nailing his accent, squint, and … difficulties … with grammar. Once Ferrell left the cast, others tried to take on the mantle, but no one quite measured up to Ferrell. In fact, his impersonation was so good, he adapted it into the Broadway play “You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush”. Ferrell reprised the role a few times on SNL too, including in 2018, with an important message: [“I wanted to remind you guys that I was REALLY bad!”]

#8: Dan Aykroyd as Richard Nixon

This Not Ready for Primetime Player was notable for a couple of Presidential impersonations, including a memorable stint as Jimmy Carter during the early seasons of "Saturday Night Live." Dan Aykroyd also did a very successful impression of Richard Nixon, to boot, standing out amongst the myriad of other comics who were taking their shot at the infamous ex-President. Copying Nixon's idiosyncratic, hunched over gait and penchant for waving victory signs was the easy part. More challenging was trying to get laughs portraying a man who was so disliked and controversial. Aykroyd succeeded, however, going on to portray Nixon a total of ten times from 1976 to 1979.

#7: Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton

If Baldwin's Trump was good, then Kate McKinnon's parody of Hillary Clinton was even better. McKinnon's place as one of “SNL’”s funniest faces was already secure before she took on this role, but if anything, Kate's impression of Hillary has made her even more popular. Maybe it's McKinnon's ability to tap into Clinton's awkward public persona, or perhaps it was the laughs she got portraying how badly Hillary wanted to win the election. Or, maybe it was that somber cold opening in the wake of a Trump victory, where, in character, McKinnon sang a stirring rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Honestly, it was all of that and more: this was a brilliant performance.

#6: Dana Carvey as George H.W. Bush

It seems as if “SNL” icon Dana Carvey can impersonate just about anyone, but it was the world of politics that gave us some of the cast member's most memorable bits. When it came to his impersonation of George H. W. Bush, Carvey had a lot of material to work with during the course of Bush’s Presidency. But it's the comedian's uncanny ability to mimic the former president's voice and mannerisms, especially during monologues and debates that are probably best remembered. Oh, and in case you’re worried … don’t worry, there’s more Carvey ahead in the list!

#5: Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer

We return to another Trump-era “SNL” impersonation for our next entry. Melissa McCarthy surprised everyone in 2017 when she appeared on "Saturday Night Live" to impersonate former White House press secretary Sean Spicer. The comedian’s natural affinity for physical comedy and mimicry brought the house down, and it wasn't long before McCarthy was making regular appearances as Spicer. Her impression was loud, colorful, and boisterous… and we loved every minute of it! Even Sean Spicer admitted that it was “kinda funny”. Although he said his boss didn’t see it that way ...

#4: Larry David as Bernie Sanders

If there was ever an “SNL” impersonation that left people wanting more, it was this one. Comedian and "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David seemed born to play Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, sliding into the role like a pair of old, comfortable shoes. Any “SNL” debate sketch was immediately enhanced by David's impression of Sanders' righteous indignation and anger, not to mention some good-natured ribbing about the senator's age. His loud and boisterous freakouts never failed to get the audience roaring. As it turns out, the two are actually distant cousins - so maybe David had a bit of a genetic advantage here!

#3: Phil Hartman as Bill Clinton

Hillary's other half is up next on our list, this time portrayed by the much-missed Phil Hartman. The “SNL” legend had already impressed with his smart and satirical take on former President Reagan. Yet even that performance was eclipsed by his dead-on impression of William Jefferson Clinton. Hartman wasn't one-note in his work, and did his best to capture everything about Clinton: his affable charisma, his Arkansas accent, his taste for fast food, his relationship with Hillary, and his role as Commander in Chief. Above all else, though, it was just funny: a perfect impression from one of “SNL’”s greatest talents.

#2: Dana Carvey as Ross Perot

Former Presidential candidate Ross Perot may not exist front and center within the public consciousness much anymore. But there was a time where this self-made man was everywhere in the news. As a result, Perot's fiery third party campaign for the White House made for a perfect SNL parody from veteran cast member Dana Carvey. For starters, Carvey NAILS Perot's memorable laugh, as well as his quick manner of speech, strange non sequiturs and knack for sidebar colloquialisms. The impression also captures the zeitgeist of the time, this feeling that Perot might actually have a chance to lead a third party candidate to the highest seat in American public service. It doesn't matter that Perot wasn't successful in his bid, because Carvey's work here remains classic.

#1: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

It's one of the most beloved and most well-known political parodies in “SNL” history: the time Tina Fey took a shot at vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin. Fey won a Primetime Emmy award in 2009 for her portrayal of the former Alaskan governor; a nuanced performance that both skewered Palin's political prowess, or lack thereof, and lightheartedly poked fun at her beauty queen appearance, accent, and use of colloquialisms. It was a smash hit, and Fey would return to the role a number of times for “SNL,” securing the character as a high point in the show's long history of political comedy.

Did we forget another fantastic political impression? Let us know in the comments below.