Lin-Manuel Miranda Brings Latino Flair to ‘SNL’ Without Missing a Beat

Lin-Manuel Miranda returned to “Saturday Night Live,” taking the stage in the show’s cold open to reprise his iconic role as Alexander Hamilton. But instead of sticking strictly to the Revolutionary War vibe, the Tony-winning creator of “Hamilton” embraced the opportunity to poke fun at modern politics and, subtly, at himself.

The sketch opened with a dramatic reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Miranda’s Hamilton delivered a fiery speech that transitioned into a rap.

“In America, we will never have a king.”

Enter James Austin Johnson as President Donald Trump, who quipped, “Never say never! Kidding, of course, though in many ways, I’m not. I’m in my king era.”

The skit took aim at Trump’s eccentricities, with Johnson delivering a spot-on impression of rambling monologues and self-aggrandizement. While the rest of the cast portraying the founding fathers stood frozen, Johnson’s Trump riffed about everything from his inauguration (“a tremendous success held indoors due to cold and fear”) to Melania Trump’s fashion choices, likening her hat to that of Kung Lao from Mortal Kombat.

However, the humor turned self-referential when Johnson’s Trump mocked Miranda directly, blurring the lines between actor and character. “Look at Lin,” he said, pointing out Miranda’s visible eagerness to rap while remaining frozen. “He wrote a whole rap, and he doesn’t get to do it. Oh, the audience would have eaten that right up. But we’re not going to hear it.”

Miranda, known for his expressive performances, struggled to hold back laughter as Johnson delivered the roast with surgical precision. The tension broke when Miranda “unfroze” to deny Trump’s fabricated claim that he had anonymously donated $1 million to his campaign.

While Miranda’s performance in the skit showcased his theatrical talents and comedic timing, it also reflected his willingness to engage with satire—even when he’s the target. His Latino roots, a central element of his artistic identity, were present without being overly celebrated, grounding the performance in a nuanced take on representation.

Miranda’s return to SNL was a reminder of his ability to balance humor, politics, and culture without taking himself too seriously—a quality that continues to set him apart in the entertainment world.

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