7 celebrities who parodied the president as new doc Playing POTUS debuts at Tribeca
7 celebrities who parodied the president as new doc Playing POTUS debuts at Tribeca
Julianna SalinasSun, May 31, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC
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Playing POTUS premiers on June 5 at the 2026 Tribeca Festival -Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited (Reach Publishing Services Limited)
A new documentary film about the longstanding comedy tradition of parodying the president is set to premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Festival.
The film, titled Playing POTUS, investigates "how comedians don't just parody leaders, they help define them," revealing how impersonating the president became a form of "political storytelling." The Josh Greenbaum-directed doc was adapted from Peter Funt's book of the same name and explores how lighthearted spoofing on television evolved into threats of censorship and ongoing controversy.
The film features a number of SNL alumni and other comedy juggernauts who have portrayed the president during their careers, following Will Ferrell's debut as Jeffrey Epstein's ghost during the Season 51 finale of Saturday Night Live.
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Playing POTUS includes interviews from multiple celebrities, including SNL alums Dana Carvey, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jay Pharoah, Chevy Chase, and more, many of whom have parodied the president on television.
From Alec Baldwin's Emmy Award-winning performance as Donald Trump to Maya Rudolph's spot-on impersonation of Vice President and then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris, here are 7 of the best presidential parodies ahead of the world premiere of Playing POTUS.
Dana Carvey famously portrayed George Bush on SNL
The 70-year-old appears in the new documentaryDana Carvey
The 70-year-old SNL alum first portrayed George Bush in 1987 and even popularized multiple catchphrases that the president never actually said, including "No gonna do it," "Wouldn't be prudent," "Na-ga-da (Never gonna do it)," and "At this juncture."
Despite poking fun at the president, Dana and Bush Sr. formed a lifelong friendship, with the late president even appearing on SNL to playfully criticize the comedian's impression, claiming that it "bears no resemblance."
Kate parodied presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on SNLKate McKinnon
Kate, who was on Saturday Night Live for 11 seasons, hilariously parodied Hillary Clinton on the live sketch comedy show, most famously during the former Secretary of State's presidential run against Donald Trump and her first run in 2008.
The 42-year-old spoofed Clinton's wardrobe and signature laughter, becoming one of SNL's most beloved characters. In the 2020 documentary Hillary, the 78-year-old told Kate, "You do me better than I do me!"
Alec Baldwin won an Emmy for his Trump spoofAlec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin famously won an Emmy in 2017 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his impersonation of Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live. During the actor's acceptance speech, the 68-year-old famously joked, "At long last, Mr. President, here is your Emmy."
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Alec debuted the character during the Season 42 premiere in a parody of the first presidential debate against Kate McKinnon's Hillary Clinton.
Keegan-Michael Key is known for his Barack Obama impersonationKeegan-Michael Key
While several stars have parodied Barack Obama, including SNL alums Fred Armisen and Jay Pharoah, Key & Peele star Keegan-Michael Key's impersonation of the 44th president is perhaps the most well-known.
The comedian played the former president as a character in the popular "Obama Anger Translator" sketches on the Comedy Central series. The 55-year-old joined Obama on stage during the 2015 White House Correspondents' Dinner to 'translate' the president's remarks in real time.
Will Ferrell may be the most iconic presidential parody of all timeWill Ferrell
Perhaps the most iconic presidential parody of all time is Will Ferrell as George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live, which he debuted during his 2000 campaign. The hilarious spoof of Bush is credited for shaping the voting public's perception of the 43rd president, including the coining of the term "strategery."
The 58-year-old comedy legend reprised the iconic character in the 2009 Tony-nominated Broadway show You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush.
Larry David appeared as Bernie Sanders alongside Woody Harrelson and Maya RudolphWoody Harrelson
Member of the Five Timers Club, Woody Harrelson, portrayed then-presidential candidate Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live over three episodes in 2019 before being replaced by Jim Carrey. Joe Biden is currently portrayed on SNL by cast member James Austin Johnson.
During his debut as Biden, the three-time Oscar nominee famously said, "I'm like plastic straws. I've been around forever, I've always worked, and now you're mad at me? Drink up, America!"
Maya Rudolph and Kamala Harris appeared in a sketch together on SNLMaya Rudolph
The 53-year-old SNL alum famously portrayed Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election.
Maya's portrayal of Harris included a surprise joint appearance on November 2, just days before the election. The real Kamala sat in front of a mirror across from her comedy doppelganger during one of the most memorable presidential parodies in SNL history.
Other famous spoofs include Dan Aykroyd as Richard Nixon, James Austin Johnson as Trump, Fred Armisen as Obama, Mikey Day as Joe Biden, Chris Parnell as George W. Bush, Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford, Jay Pharoah as Obama, and Phil Hartman as George Bush, among others.
Playing POTUS premieres at the Tribeca Festival on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
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