A history of presidential parodies on Saturday Night Live

From Gerald Ford to Joe Biden and everyone in between

SNL presidents.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images)

NBC's iconic sketch show Saturday Night Live is famous for its political humor — and in particular, its long and storied history of presidential parodies, many of which have become iconic in their own right. Here's everything you need to know:

When did presidential parodies begin on Saturday Night Live?

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Justin Klawans, The Week US

 Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.