“Saturday Night Live” opened its first episode of 2019 with a sketch featuring the return of Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump, and Congress’ desperate attempt to get him to agree end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
As Steve Harvey (Kenan Thompson) explained, the only negotiation Trump would understand was with a game show: “Deal or No Deal: Government Shutdown Edition.” (Usual host Howie Mandel was apparently not available due to a germ thing, according to Harvey.)
Members of Congress (played by the “SNL” cast) stood around with numbered cases, ready to offer Trump alternatives to the over $5 billion he wants to build his border wall.
But he was not a fan of a proposal from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Kate McKinnon): “$1 Billion + you say ‘Nancy’s my mommy.’”
He also passed on a case from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (Beck Bennett). Schumer offered “Whatever You Want” until Pelosi reminded him they weren’t doing that, then offered “$15 + a pastrami on rye.”
He continued to say “no deal” to Mitch McConnell, Maxine Waters, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Cory Booker, and even Cardi B, who offered him “shmoney.”
Eventually he agreed to reopen the government in exchange for “hamberders” from a Clemson football player (Pete Davidson).
Baldwin has popped up less often in Season 44 than he did in the last two seasons. He’s appeared four times this season.
Watch the video above.