Hillary Clinton trolls Trump in a surprise appearance at the 2018 Grammys

Chloe Melas
By Chloe Melas and Brian Stelter
Updated 11:55 PM EST, Tue January 30, 2018
the late show/ facebook
CNN  — 

Hillary Clinton made a surprise appearance on Sunday night in a Grammy Awards comedy bit that took a jab at President Trump.

The former presidential candidate, along with Cher, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, John Legend and DJ Khaled were among those who read excerpts from Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” the hit book about Trump’s first year in the White House.

The bit shows Grammy host James Corden holding auditions for the book reading in hopes of nabbing next year’s best spoken word album with famous musicians trying out for the coveted role.

Clinton’s face was covered by the book when she first appeared on screen in the pre-taped sketch, but the crowd cheered when she lowered the book to reveal her face.

Clinton read the famous line about Trump’s love for fast food: “He had a longtime fear of being poisoned. One reason why he liked to eat at McDonalds. No one knew he was coming and the food was safely pre-made.”

Bruno Mars accepts the Grammy Award for album of the year, which he won for "24K Magic" on Sunday, January 28. Mars also won the Grammys for song of the year ("That's What I Like") and record of the year ("24K Magic").
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS
Bruno Mars accepts the Grammy Award for album of the year, which he won for "24K Magic" on Sunday, January 28. Mars also won the Grammys for song of the year ("That's What I Like") and record of the year ("24K Magic").
From left, Khalid, Logic and Alessia Cara perform "1-800-273-8255." The song title is the phone number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS
From left, Khalid, Logic and Alessia Cara perform "1-800-273-8255." The song title is the phone number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Actor Ben Platt, star of the Broadway musical "Dear Evan Hansen, sings "Somewhere."
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS
Actor Ben Platt, star of the Broadway musical "Dear Evan Hansen, sings "Somewhere."
Elton John and Miley Cyrus team up for John's "Tiny Dancer."
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Elton John and Miley Cyrus team up for John's "Tiny Dancer."
U2 performs "Get Out of Your Own Way" on a barge near the Statue of Liberty.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for NARAS
U2 performs "Get Out of Your Own Way" on a barge near the Statue of Liberty.
Kesha performs "Praying" as she is backed up by singers including Bebe Rexha, Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Andra Day and Julia Michaels.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Kesha performs "Praying" as she is backed up by singers including Bebe Rexha, Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Andra Day and Julia Michaels.
The Brothers Osborne, left, join Maren Morris and Eric Church for a cover of the Eric Clapton classic "Tears in Heaven." The song -- and the stage -- paid tribute to those killed in the Las Vegas shooting last year.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
The Brothers Osborne, left, join Maren Morris and Eric Church for a cover of the Eric Clapton classic "Tears in Heaven." The song -- and the stage -- paid tribute to those killed in the Las Vegas shooting last year.
Cardi B and Bruno Mars perform "Finesse."
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Cardi B and Bruno Mars perform "Finesse."
Childish Gambino sings "Terrified."
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Childish Gambino sings "Terrified."
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee are joined by dancers for their hit song "Despacito."
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee are joined by dancers for their hit song "Despacito."
Alessia Cara accepts the Grammy for best new artist.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Alessia Cara accepts the Grammy for best new artist.
From left, Joe Saylor, Jon Batiste and Gary Clark Jr. perform a tribute to Chuck Berry and Fats Domino. The show was held in New York City's Madison Square Garden. It was the first time in 15 years that the Grammys were held in New York.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
From left, Joe Saylor, Jon Batiste and Gary Clark Jr. perform a tribute to Chuck Berry and Fats Domino. The show was held in New York City's Madison Square Garden. It was the first time in 15 years that the Grammys were held in New York.
Jay-Z, Beyonce and their daughter Blue Ivy attend the show.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS
Jay-Z, Beyonce and their daughter Blue Ivy attend the show.
Kendrick Lamar is joined by Rihanna as he accepts the first Grammy of the television broadcast. The two teamed up for "Loyalty," which won the award for best rap/sung performance.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Kendrick Lamar is joined by Rihanna as he accepts the first Grammy of the television broadcast. The two teamed up for "Loyalty," which won the award for best rap/sung performance.
Lady Gaga performs during the show's first hour.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS
Lady Gaga performs during the show's first hour.
James Corden was the host for the second straight year.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
James Corden was the host for the second straight year.
Kendrick Lamar performs at the start of the broadcast. He was nominated for seven Grammys and won five.
Photos: Grammys 2018: The highlights
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Kendrick Lamar performs at the start of the broadcast. He was nominated for seven Grammys and won five.

The Grammys producers reached out to Clinton’s camp a couple of weeks ago. They toyed with a couple of different passages from the book before settling on the excerpt about Trump’s McDonald’s habit, according to a person who was involved with the taping, which took place last week in New York City.

The gag was originally only going to include two or three other people, but it grew over the time, the source said. Wolff had no immediate comment on the Grammys bit.

00:10 - Source: CNN
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The sketch has already drawn the ire of at least one prominent White House figure. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley fired off a tweet on Sunday night shortly after the bit aired.

“I have always loved the Grammys but to have artists read the Fire and Fury book killed it,” Haley tweeted. “Don’t ruin great music with trash. Some of us love music without the politics thrown in it.”

Haley took to the radio waves on Thursday to say that a rumor sparked by the book is “absolutely not true,” referring to a detail in “Fire and Fury” that alleges that she carried on an affair with President Trump.

“Fire and Fury” has sold 1.7 million copies, according to publisher Henry Holt & Co. The book has had remarkable staying power. It held onto the No. 1 spot on Amazon’s best selling books list for almost the entire month of January. Over the weekend, it slipped to No. 2 – but the Grammys may give it another shot of publicity.