Vice President Kamala Harris's surprise appearance on "Saturday Night Live" has ignited a wave of criticism, with Trump supporters accusing her of copying a 2015 skit Donald Trump performed with Jimmy Fallon. Meanwhile, an FCC commissioner has suggested that her appearance may have breached the Equal Time Rule, a regulation meant to ensure all candidates have fair access to broadcast platforms during elections.
Harris made her entrance in the show's opening segment, appearing as the mirror image of Maya Rudolph's portrayal. "It is nice to see you Kamala," she said to Rudolph, as the two exchanged lines dressed identically. Harris added, "I'm just here to remind you, you got this," which drew applause from the live audience. At one point, Harris even asked Rudolph, "Do I really laugh like that?" echoing a line famously used by Hillary Clinton during her own "SNL" appearance.
The scene may have landed well with some viewers, but Trump supporters took to social media in outrage, accusing Harris of mimicking Trump's 2015 skit with Fallon, where he also appeared opposite himself. "Is there anything she won't copy?" one user wrote, reflecting the anger among Trump's supporters over what they view as Harris's attempt to "steal Trump's thunder."
Adding to the controversy, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr took issue with the timing of Harris's appearance. He argued on social media that the skit skirted around the Equal Time Rule, a regulation intended to prevent broadcast bias. "This is a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC's Equal Time rule," Carr wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "The purpose of the rule is to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct-a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election."
The Equal Time Rule, which seeks to provide equal access to legally qualified candidates, generally exempts "bona fide" news programming. While candidates have historically appeared on "SNL," election-eve appearances are rare, and critics argue that Harris's last-minute cameo violates the spirit of equal access in political coverage.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about the role of media in political campaigns. Jason Miller, senior adviser to Trump, expressed surprise that Harris would appear on the show given the less-than-flattering portrayals of her by Rudolph. Asked whether Trump had been invited to "SNL" this season, Miller said, "I don't know. Probably not."
Harris's appearance also diverges from "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels's stated policy on candidates during election periods. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Michaels had previously asserted, "You can't bring the actual people who are running on because of election laws and the equal time provisions." Yet Harris's last-minute cameo, just before Tuesday's election, seemed to contradict that stance.
Following the skit, Harris told reporters, "It was fun!" as she left 30 Rockefeller Plaza to continue her campaign trail. But her appearance has left a lasting impression, prompting questions about broadcast fairness, regulatory compliance, and Harris's own campaign tactics just days before voters head to the polls.
