Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton met Donald Trump in the SNL Cold Open

The cold opens up Saturday Night LiveThe Jan. 25 episode opened with America’s founding fathers signing the Constitution—providing the perfect opportunity for a fun cameo. Actor, composer and season 42 host Lin-Manuel Miranda dusted off his Hamilton looks to revive the famous Broadway role he created, though he was soon cut short by President Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson).

“What can I say? I say our lives don’t matter if we lose them in the cause of freedom,” Manuel’s Hamilton told his colleagues, ramping up to one of his signature raps. “What matters is the nation we build. For in America all men are created equal. America not England—we’re making the sequel. And we want leaders, but know one thing: In America we’ll never have a king !”

Enter Donald Trump (Johnson), who interrupts the musical number like a record scratcher.

“Never say never,” Johnson’s Trump said SNL audience as Miranda and the Season 50 cast froze behind him. “Of course it’s fun – although in many ways I’m not. I’m in my prime.”

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James Austin Johnson’s Trump teased Lin-Manuel Miranda in SNL’s cold open

As in season 49 “Republican Debate Cold Open,” the rest of the sketch artists remained frozen as Johnson’s Trump spoke in front of them—and Johnson hilariously attempted to pin Miranda while remaining frozen in place.

“Look at Lin,” he said, motioning behind him. “He was tricked into coming here and now he’s frozen on stage. Oh, he’s furious.” But the Tony-nominated actor has plenty of experience as a live performer and stayed put like a pro.

Trump continued to summarize 20 January inaugurationfrom his front-row “nerd gang” (tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk) to his tall son Barron, who “bangs his head on every door frame.”

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“The inauguration was a huge success,” declared Johnson’s Trump. “It was inside because of cold and fear, but we had a lot of surprise guests – like Melania.”

In a comment to Musk’s controversial gesture at the inauguration, Trump again turned to Miranda’s stage-frozen form. “Lin, what do you think? Did he do it?” he asked him.

“Oh, look at Lin. Look how bad he wants to rap,” Johnson’s Trump continued, walking up to stand directly next to Miranda. “He wrote a whole rap and he doesn’t get to do it. Oh, the crowd would have eaten it right up, but we’re not going to hear it. He’s within sniffing distance of an EGOT and he’s going to stand there until I is done.” Only when Johnson started with “Lindy, Lindy, Lindy Lindy” did a smile play at the corner of Miranda’s mouth.

Until it was time to say “Live, from New York,” that is — see “Founding Fathers cold open” above.

Fortunately, Miranda did get to perform a rap during his episode’s monologue — to the tune of Hamiltonis “My shot.”