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If you’ve spent any time watching Saturday Night Live or scrolling through late-night talk show clips, you probably have a vibe for where most of Hollywood stands. But when it comes to the specific question of does Will Ferrell like Donald Trump, things get a bit more interesting than just a simple "yes" or "no." Honestly, the relationship—if you can even call it that—is basically a masterclass in how a comedian uses a public figure as a canvas for high-level mockery.
Ferrell isn't exactly the type of guy to sit down for a gritty, 60-minute political manifesto. He’s a clown in the best sense of the word. Yet, through his characters and his rare forays into campaign ads, he’s made his stance pretty undeniable. He doesn't just "dislike" Trump in the way you might dislike a bad cup of coffee; he has spent nearly a decade using his massive platform to frame the former President as a singular figure of comedy and, more recently, a genuine political threat.
The Bush Connection: Using One President to Roast Another
One of the most famous instances of Ferrell addressing Trump didn't even involve him being himself. In 2017, Ferrell resurrected his legendary George W. Bush impression for Samantha Bee’s "Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner." It was a massive moment for fans of SNL's golden era.
He didn't hold back. Speaking as "Bush," Ferrell joked that for the longest time, he was considered the "worst President of all time." He then pivoted, saying that the "new guy" (Trump) managed to take that title in just a hundred days. It was a biting bit of satire that used the nostalgic warmth people now feel for the "oafish" Bush to highlight what Ferrell clearly sees as the more dangerous temperament of Trump.
In that sketch, he even poked fun at Trump’s fashion and his skin tone, famously coining the color "Mar-a-Lago" to describe it. This wasn't just a lighthearted ribbing. It was a systematic teardown of Trump’s image, delivered through the lens of a character Ferrell knows better than almost anyone.
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That Viral Kamala Harris Ad and "Gary"
If you want to know does Will Ferrell like Donald Trump in a contemporary sense, look no further than the 2024 election cycle. Ferrell moved past just doing "bits" and jumped straight into the political fray.
He appeared in a high-energy, slightly aggressive campaign ad for Kamala Harris where he jokingly "threatened" a voter named Gary. The premise was simple: the election is going to be incredibly close, and if you don't show up to vote against Trump, Will Ferrell is going to hold you personally responsible.
- The Tone: Intense, funny, but with a sharp undercurrent of "this matters."
- The Message: He specifically cited how a few thousand votes kept Trump out of office "last time" (referring to the 2020 victory).
- The Reality: You don't cut an ad like that if you have any secret admiration for the guy on the other side.
He also teamed up with Billy Eichner for a "Billy on the Street" segment titled "Loud White Men For Kamala Harris." It was chaotic. They ran through the streets of New York, screaming at pedestrians to get out and vote for the Harris-Walz ticket. It was classic Ferrell—loud, absurdist, and deeply partisan.
Holmes, Watson, and "Make England Great Again"
Even in his movies, Ferrell hasn't been shy about sneaking in some Trump-related jabs. The 2018 film Holmes & Watson, which starred Ferrell and John C. Reilly, was pretty much universally panned by critics. Interestingly, many reviews pointed out what they called "anachronistic Donald Trump humor."
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The movie featured gags about "fake news" and red hats that read "Make England Great Again." Critics like Frank Scheck from The Hollywood Reporter felt these jokes fell flat because they felt forced. But whether or not the jokes worked is secondary to the fact that Ferrell and his creative team felt the need to include them. It shows that Trump was a constant presence in Ferrell’s creative headspace during that era.
The "Normal Human" Critique
Beyond the jokes, Ferrell has occasionally dropped the persona to speak about Trump as a citizen. In a 2017 interview with Amy Poehler, the conversation turned to the then-President. Ferrell’s take was less about policy and more about basic decency.
He mentioned that even his kids thought the behavior coming from the White House was "like a baby." Ferrell’s main gripe wasn't just that he disagreed with Trump; it was that he wanted a President to "act like a normal decent human being" and be "slightly professional." He literally called him a "maniac" during that discussion. It was a rare moment where the guy who played Ron Burgundy seemed genuinely frustrated by the reality of American politics.
Why People Keep Asking
There is a weird segment of the internet that thinks because Ferrell plays certain "buffoonish" characters, he might secretly sympathize with the populist energy Trump tapped into. This is basically a misunderstanding of how Ferrell operates. He parodies power. Whether it's the arrogance of a 1970s news anchor or the perceived "cowboy" antics of George W. Bush, he targets people who take themselves too seriously.
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Trump, in many ways, is the ultimate Ferrell character come to life—someone with massive confidence and a questionable grasp on reality. But for Ferrell, the comedy stops when the "character" is actually running the country.
Actionable Insights: What This Tells Us About Celebrity Satire
If you're looking at the Ferrell vs. Trump dynamic, there are a few things you can take away from how modern celebrity influence works:
- Satire is a Tool, Not Just a Joke: Ferrell uses his impressions to "soften" or "harden" the image of a politician. His Bush was lovable but dim; his "view" of Trump is much harsher.
- The "Gary" Strategy: In the age of 2026, celebrity endorsements have moved away from "I like this person" to "You better show up or else." It’s a shift toward urgency.
- Separate the Art from the Artist: Just because Ferrell plays characters that might appeal to a certain demographic doesn't mean his personal politics align with them.
- Watch the Creative Credits: If you want to know a celeb's true feelings, look at what they produce. The "Make England Great Again" jokes in a Sherlock Holmes movie say more than a PR statement ever could.
Ferrell's stance is clear: he views Trump as a figure ripe for mockery and a leader he fundamentally disagrees with. Whether he's screaming on a street corner with Billy Eichner or putting on the old Texas drawl to deliver a punchline, the message remains the same. He’s not a fan. Not even a little bit.
If you want to dive deeper into how other SNL alums feel, you could look into Alec Baldwin’s own public feuds with Trump, which were much more personal and vitriolic than Ferrell's satirical approach.