SNL writers were left in tears when Donald Trump won the 2016 election, reveals Dave Chappelle as he reflects on hosting the show amid the liberal meltdown.
Key Takeaways
- Dave Chappelle revealed that SNL writers were crying and emotionally broken after Trump’s 2016 victory was announced.
- Chappelle and fellow comedian Mo Amer, who both live in conservative states (Ohio and Texas), were less surprised by Trump’s win than the New York-based SNL staff.
- The comedian compared his 2016 post-election monologue to a “photograph” that captured a moment in time, regardless of how perceptions have changed since.
- Chappelle has hosted SNL multiple times during politically significant moments, establishing himself as a cultural commentator during presidential transitions.
Liberal Tears at 30 Rock
Legendary comedian Dave Chappelle recently provided a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the liberal meltdown that occurred at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza when President Donald Trump secured his first election victory in 2016. During a candid conversation with fellow comedian Mo Amer for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series, Chappelle described the dramatic scene that unfolded in the Saturday Night Live writers’ room when Trump’s win was announced, revealing just how unprepared the show’s staff was for the outcome that conservatives across America had anticipated.
“Man, when they called Donald Trump the winner, that s— shut the writers’ room down. You should have seen them in there. Boy, they was crying… They couldn’t believe that this was happening,” said Dave Chappelle.
The stark contrast between coastal elites and heartland Americans was further highlighted when Mo Amer, a Texas resident, admitted he had predicted Trump’s victory, saying, “I knew it the whole time.” Chappelle, who lives in rural Ohio, acknowledged this geographic divide in political perception, noting that from 30 Rock’s windows, “it looked like Hillary Clinton was going to win. I don’t know what looks different from those windows.”
A Moment Frozen in Time
Looking back at his monologue from that historic post-election episode, Chappelle offered a thoughtful perspective on how his words have aged in the nearly nine years since. He compared the monologue to a snapshot, a cultural artifact that perfectly captured the sentiment of that pivotal moment regardless of how public opinion has evolved. Notably, Chappelle had urged Americans to give the newly elected President Trump a chance, a stance that demonstrated his willingness to break from the liberal consensus that dominated entertainment.
“As you know, I notoriously don’t like to do press. But I wouldn’t have missed today, because it’s you,” Chappelle told Amer during their conversation, highlighting the rare nature of his public reflections on these politically charged performances.
Comedians as Cultural Commentators
The discussion between Chappelle and Amer revealed much about the unique position comedians occupy during times of political transition. Chappelle has established himself as something of a tradition at SNL during electoral moments, having hosted the show not only after Trump’s 2016 victory but also following Biden’s contested win in 2020 and before Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025. This pattern speaks to his ability to provide perspective during politically fraught moments, often offering views that challenge the entertainment industry’s overwhelmingly liberal groupthink.
Beyond political commentary, the conversation also touched on the creative partnership between the two comedians. During the pandemic, Chappelle created a safe haven for performers at his Ohio home, hosting shows in a cornfield with daily COVID testing. “We spent all the summer of 2020 together doing shows. The best comedians in the world flew into Ohio, and we had a blast,” said Dave Chappelle.
This creative bubble provided Amer with the space to write Season 1 of his Netflix series “Mo,” which chronicles the experiences of a Palestinian family in America. Chappelle’s influence extended beyond mere companionship, as he directly inspired Amer’s creative direction. “Mo, have you ever thought about doing a short film in front of your stand-up special? And if you do it right, it could win an Emmy,” Chappelle recalled telling his colleague, advice that eventually led to the development of Amer’s acclaimed series.
