Overview

• In a Variety “Actors on Actors” interview with Mo Amer, Chappelle said his 2016 opening monologue simply reflected how he felt moments after the election.
• He recalled that NBC’s SNL writers were distraught and in tears once President Trump was declared the winner.
• The comedian acknowledged in 2017 that urging viewers to “give Trump a chance” was a mistake and apologized for the remark.
• Chappelle has since hosted SNL after Joe Biden’s 2020 victory and most recently before President Trump’s 2025 inauguration, using his monologues to urge empathy and responsibility.
• He explained that he skips full monologue rehearsals to preserve spontaneity, calling the live format “exhilarating.”