SNL to Shake Up Cast for Season 51; Johnson to Play Trump

Saturday Night Live will undergo a significant cast shakeup ahead of Season 51, with official announcements expected within a week. Lorne Michaels confirmed that James Austin Johnson will continue portraying Donald Trump, and he stressed that the show is not retiring, but rather expanding the decision-making process to involve more voices as it looks to reinvent itself for the fall premiere on October 4, 2025, on NBC and Peacock.

Michaels has said the changes were postponed through the Season 50 milestone to keep the focus on the 50th anniversary run. He recalled that when Kate McKinnon hosted, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph returned, and that return helped keep the spotlight on the milestone without disruptive cast upheaval. “I wanted people coming back and being part of the 50th season,” he explained, noting that the period was shaped by a political year and a conscious effort to preserve the celebration.

As the show plans for Season 51, auditions were held in Studio 8H, with casting discussions described as broader and more collaborative than in the past. Michaels indicated that the upcoming lineup would be announced soon, including who is returning, who is joining, and which...