Joe Piscopo Reflects on His Friendship with Trump in New Memoir

LOS ANGELES, CA — Joe Piscopo, the comedian and actor known for his role on “Saturday Night Live,” has released a new memoir, “Average Joe: The Memoirs of a Blue-Collar Entertainer.” In it, the former cast member shares details of his life, career, and his controversial support for Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Piscopo, 73, recounts a pivotal moment in his political journey when he received a call from Trump’s campaign asking him to speak at a rally in Tampa, Florida. At the time, Piscopo was an “old Blue Dog Democrat” who realized that supporting Trump could jeopardize his standing in Hollywood. He wrote, “I knew that publicly supporting Trump would be the forever death knell, the nail in my coffin in Hollywood.”

Despite the possible repercussions, Piscopo stood by his decision. “I made the right move, but boy, they don’t want to hear it out in Hollywood,” he told Fox News Digital. “The country’s in such a mess. And Donald Trump is doing such a great job at this point.”

In his conversation with Fox, Piscopo highlighted what he perceives as Trump’s dedication to the country, stating, “I know, from knowing him all those years, that he loves his country more than anything else.” He contrasted his admiration for Trump with his interaction with Hillary Clinton, saying, “I found Hillary rather charming when I met her,” yet emphasized his belief that Trump was the right choice.

Piscopo’s experience at the Tampa rally further shaped his views. He described the atmosphere as electric, noting, “It’s like a rock concert. I [couldn’t] believe it. This is ‘The Donald.’” He recounted a moment during his speech where he spontaneously pledged allegiance to the flag, stating, “I go, ‘Pledge of Allegiance? Who does that anymore?’”

As he reflected on his decision to support Trump, Piscopo wrote about witnessing the “hope and joy” of the crowd, stating, “It’s ironic that it took a billionaire from New York City to tap into the heart of these decent, hardworking folks and seem to honestly understand what they stood for.”

After Trump was elected as America’s 45th president in 2017, Piscopo expressed his unwavering loyalty, describing Trump as “a loyal friend.” He recalled their long friendship, saying, “I’ve known Donald Trump for a hundred years. He was always respectful. He was always kind.”

Piscopo has remained vocal about his support for Trump, even attending the former president’s trial in 2024 to protest what he termed political persecution. “It’s friendship. It’s loyalty. It’s not forgetting who you are, where you’re from,” he said.

The comedian’s reflections on Trump and their camaraderie resonate with a significant portion of his audience, illustrating a connection that transcends politics. As Piscopo puts it, “If someone doesn’t see it, I feel sorry for them because they’re missing out on a great thing.”

In his memoir, Piscopo underscores a message of embracing goodness and setting aside hate, stating, “I didn’t hate Hillary. I didn’t hate Biden. I didn’t hate Obama. The hate’s got to be put aside. You just embrace the goodness that is there.”