For decades, even before his foray into politics, Sesame Street has featured a character that playfully, and sometimes pointedly, mirrored a certain real-estate mogul turned president: Donald Grump. This enduring parody offers a fascinating look at how the beloved children’s show engaged with contemporary culture and political figures, even those seemingly outside the realm of preschool viewing.
The concept of Donald Grump first emerged in the late 1980s, a time when Donald Trump was already a prominent figure in New York City tabloids and national news. Sesame Street, known for its witty writing and ability to resonate with both children and adults, cleverly incorporated this public persona into its Muppet world. This wasn’t just about mimicking a famous name; it was about using satire to explore themes relevant to children’s lives, such as fairness, sharing, and dealing with difficult personalities.
The 1980s: Grump Tower and Oscar’s Eviction Woes
In 1988, Donald Grump made his debut in a segment that resonated with then-current events and anxieties. This Muppet version of Trump was depicted as a scheming landlord who erected “Grump Tower,” a structure made of trash receptacles, right on top of Oscar the Grouch’s beloved trash can. The parody went further, with Grump attempting to evict Oscar from his own home.
This sketch was more than just a funny take on a well-known businessman. As noted by the Washington Post, it subtly mirrored real-life disputes between Donald Trump and his tenants, adding a layer of political commentary to a children’s program. For young viewers, it presented a relatable scenario of someone powerful trying to take away something valuable from someone less powerful, teaching valuable lessons about standing up for oneself and the importance of home.
The 1990s: Joe Pesci Becomes Donald Grump for “Grump World”
The 1990s saw Donald Grump return in a memorable segment from the 1994 special, Sesame Street All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! This time, the parody took a more direct and comedic approach by casting actor Joe Pesci, known for his roles in Goodfellas and Home Alone, to play Donald Grump in human form. Pesci donned orange makeup and a Trump-esque wig to complete the transformation.
In this sketch, Donald Grump announces his ambitious, and unwelcome, plan to build “Grump World,” a theme park that would displace all the Sesame Street residents. This parody tapped into Trump’s image as a developer and his often-assertive business tactics. The humor came from seeing a well-known tough-guy actor like Pesci playing a caricature of Trump in the whimsical setting of Sesame Street, highlighting the absurdity of such a figure attempting to take over their friendly neighborhood.
2000s: “The Apprentice” Comes to Sesame Street
As Donald Trump’s reality TV show, The Apprentice, gained immense popularity in the 2000s, Sesame Street once again found a rich source of material for their Donald Grump parody. In a 2005 clip, a Muppet version of Donald Grump, sporting a more refined orange wig, arrives on Sesame Street for an Apprentice-themed segment.
This parody cleverly blended the worlds of Sesame Street and reality television. Donald Grump tasks the Grouches with counting his trash, a humorous nod to both Trump’s business dealings and the Grouches’ love for all things garbage. The sketch culminated in Grump “firing” a character named Omagrossa, a clear reference to Omarosa Manigault, who was then a contestant on The Apprentice and later became a staffer in the Trump White House. This layered parody appealed to adults familiar with both Sesame Street and pop culture, while still being entertaining for children through its visual humor and familiar characters. The inclusion of a celebratory song praising Donald Grump for having his name on “every piece of trash in town” further underscored the satirical intent.
2010s and Beyond: Subtle Nods and Shifting Satire
While Donald Grump appearances became less frequent in the 2010s, the spirit of parody remained. Miss Piggy, in a 2012 video segment, subtly poked fun at Donald Trump’s hairstyle when asked about celebrity style choices. This lighter approach reflected a broader shift in Sesame Street’s comedic strategy.
According to Michael Davis, author of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street, the show began to move away from overt parodies, believing that adults were no longer consistently watching with children. The creative team worried that nuanced satire might be lost on preschool-aged viewers. However, the legacy of Donald Grump remains a testament to Sesame Street’s willingness to engage with the world around it, using humor and Muppets to make complex topics accessible and entertaining for generations of viewers. The enduring presence of Donald Grump in Sesame Street’s history highlights the show’s unique ability to blend education, entertainment, and social commentary, even when that commentary involves playfully mimicking a future president.
