Alec Baldwin has suggested Donald Trump is 'satire resistant' as he confirmed he may retire his impersonation of the president in a few weeks.

The 58-year-old Hollywood star said he was unsure if he would continue playing Mr Trump on Saturday Night Live after the season finale on May 20.

Baldwin's portrayal of the president has helped the US sketch show to its highest ratings in years, while Mr Trump has branded the impression 'mean spirited'.

The end? Alec Baldwin has suggested Donald Trump is 'satire resistant' as he confirmed he may retire his impersonation of the president in a few weeks

Baldwin said he is considering quitting the role because he believed people would no longer be 'in the mood to laugh' about Mr Trump in the coming months.

Asked how much longer he intended to play the US president, Baldwin told the Press Association: 'Not much longer.

'This season on SNL ... I'm going to do it as much as I can because I love them. They're my dear friends.

'After that, I don't quite know. I don't quite know if people want to continue with that.

Not so funny: 'If everything stays the same in this country as it is now, I don't think people will be in the mood to laugh about it come September,' he said

'If everything stays the same in this country as it is now, I don't think people will be in the mood to laugh about it come September.

'We'll be around the corner to the one-year anniversary of the election this fall. I think people will be in a completely different frame of mind.

'We'll see if this is actually the first satire-resistant president.'

Baldwin acknowledged his impression was not the most accurate version but said he performs a 'caricature of a more malicious Trump'.

'I suppose if I spent some time I might be able to refine my impersonation of him,' he said.

Unlikely: The 58-year-old, pictured with daughter Carmen at The Boss Baby New York premiere, said he would have to be paid 'an ungodly amount of money' to play Mr Trump in a film or on stage

'We're quoting Trump almost verbatim, and therefore we couldn't help but make him a little angry.'

Baldwin said he would have to be paid 'an ungodly amount of money' to play Mr Trump in a film or on stage.

'I don't know if I'd want to be Trump for more than a five-minute slug of time on Saturday Night Live,' the actor said.

'You'd have to pay me an ungodly amount of money because it would be exhausting. It would be tiresome.'

Baldwin was speaking as he promoted new Dreamworks animation The Boss Baby.

He voices the film's title character, a suit-wearing baby who works as a secret agent in a hidden war between babies and puppies.

The Boss Baby is released in UK cinemas on April 7.