Donald Trump Says He Nixed “Risque” ‘SNL’ Sketches to Stay in Iowa’s Good Graces

The GOP candidate also seems to think the writers are very young: "They’re all about 17 years old, OK?" Dana Edelson/NBC

The GOP candidate also seems to think the writers are very young: "They’re all about 17 years old, OK?"

Donald Trump, who appears to be back on top in Iowa per a recent poll, says he's trying not ruffle anyone in the state's feathers during his weekend appearance on Saturday Night Live.

"There were a couple that were too risqué," Trump said in a pre-taped interview with Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly on Friday. "Because you know, the poll just came down, I’m leading in Iowa, I want to stay leading in Iowa.”

A CNN/ORC poll released Friday did indeed put Trump ahead of Ben Carson in Iowa, though that came just days after a NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll saying he'd slid below Carson. Trump did not go so far as to say he had "veto power" with the SNL sketches, though he did say he was presented a slew of options by the writers who he seems to think are not yet old enough to vote.


“Well, look, we all agree, Lorne Michaels is terrific," said Trump. "They have 100 writers. I walk into the room, there are 100 — and they’re all about 17 years old, OK? They’re all young and all up in your face. But they come up with many, many skits and you pick the ones you think you like.” (There are, in fact, fewer than 100 writers in the SNL writers room.)

Controversy has swirled around Trump's Nov. 7 appearance on the show. Protests outside of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, calls for hecklers and heightened security have all made headlines — which will likely translate to ratings highs for the NBC series.

The typically confident Trump did seem to be curbing expectations about his performances, saying “I think some of it is going to be really great.”
 

Michael O'Connell