By DAVE ITZKOFF
New York Times
NEW YORK >> There is only one Donald Trump, and yet as he has continued his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, there has been a groundswell of would-be Donald Trumps — who are imitating him for laughs.
Comedic impressions of Trump are on the rise, in late-night television and on the Internet, on programs like NBC’s “Tonight” show (whose host, Jimmy Fallon, has been known to put on a distinctive wig and an unplaceable five-boroughs accent) and “Saturday Night Live” (where both Darrell Hammond and Taran Killam have played him this season).
This past week, Trump was impersonated by no less than Johnny Depp, the Academy Award-nominated actor and star of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, in an online film for the Funny or Die website that became an Internet sensation.
Needless to say, the genuine article has taken note of his many copycats, and he has made it clear he believes that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
“Now it’s gotten out of control, right?” Trump asked rhetorically in a telephone interview Friday. “Now it’s really gotten crazy.”
He added that the proliferation of impressionists was “a great honor,” and a sign of the health of his presidential campaign.
“If they didn’t do it — if they didn’t have any interest — I guess things wouldn’t be going so good,” Trump said. “I’d have to call you and say: ‘What’s going on here? What’s wrong?’”
Among the professional Donald-gangers who met with his approval was Fallon, who played Trump’s mirror reflection in a “Tonight” show sketch when Trump appeared on that program in September.
“I think he’s a terrific guy,” Trump said. “I also think he does some great, great imitations.”
Also earning a rating of “excellent” from Trump was Hammond, the veteran “SNL” performer, who has played Trump on that sketch comedy show for more than 15 years.
Trump said he had not yet watched Depp’s portrayal of him in the Funny or Die film. He added that between the two of them, “there’s a difference, physically, I can say.”
“But I think he’s a great actor,” he said.
Told by a reporter that the Funny or Die video presented a particularly satirical — some might say scathing — depiction of his ascent in the 1980s, Trump replied, “Well, these days are even better than the ’80s, and the ’80s were pretty good.”
If any particular parody should present him as cocky or arrogant, Trump said he did not mind.
“I know the business,” he said. “I know the game. And I’m not offended.”
Even so, Trump stopped short of offering any advice to comedians or actors who wanted to improve their mockery of him.
“They have enough guidance,” he said with a chuckle. “They’ve got, certainly, plenty of material, that’s for sure. Some are really good. And some are really, really awful.”
As to which impressionists did not amuse him, Trump said it would be impolite to name names.
“Some of them are good people, but they don’t have it even close,” he said. “They actually think they’re good. They actually tell me how great they are at it, and I say, ‘Give me a break.’”
He paused and added, “I don’t say that to them, because I never like to insult people.”
