Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s first late-night TV appearance as a presidential candidate was, predictably, as colorful as the man himself.
The made-for-late-night-television candidate appeared on Friday’s “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Trump spoke with his “reflection”— a parody played by host Jimmy Fallon — in a skit where he is supposedly preparing for the interview.
Trump has vowed in the past that he would build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico to prevent undocumented immigrants from crossing the border. Asked how he’d do that, the real Trump shot back at his reflection, “Since I’m you, why don’t you tell me?”
“How am I going to get Mexico to build the wall?” Fallon-as-Trump retorted. “Easy: I’ll challenge them to the biggest game of Jenga ever. I’ll make them set up the board. And then when they finish, I’ll say I don’t want to play anymore.”
The real Trump got a few moments to talk about how he’d create jobs — “just by doing it” — and how he’d help the economy, but the stand-out moments were Fallon’s dead-on facial impressions of the Republican front-runner.
After Trump offered up a few policy proposals, his reflection admitted, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. I was too busy staring at my beautiful reflection. I’m like a Greek god who just took a bath in a pumpkin spice latte.”
Asked whether he would choose Gary Busey as his vice president, Trump responded that the actor was more Supreme Court justice material. “Vice president’s a serious job,” Trump said. “I would say maybe Kanye West.” The rapper recently announced he plans to run for president in 2020.
In the interview portion of his appearance, Trump spoke about his polling success and big crowds. After one lengthy answer about how much he’s winning, Fallon was so perplexed he responded, “What question did I ask? I don’t even remember. I think you answered my question?”
The candidate also struggled to convince the studio audience that he actually felt bad for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton because of the “tough time” she’s had campaigning while talking about her email scandal.
“I feel terribly about it!” Trump insisted. “Honestly! It’s tough stuff. There’s no question about it.”
Asked whether he has ever apologized, Trump ribbed Fallon that “this was not supposed to be one of the questions.” Trump eventually conceded, “I will absolutely apologize sometime in the distant future if I’m ever wrong.”
Finally, Fallon challenged Trump to compliment fellow 2016 Republican Carly Fiorina, whose appearance Trump reportedly criticized in a Rolling Stone interview. “I think she’s a very nice woman,” Trump said, adding, “She’s going to have a rough time.”
