Saturday Night Live opens season with sketch featuring fictionalized Trump and New York mayor

Saturday Night Live’s season-52 premiere opened with a cold-open sketch that paired a caricature of President Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, with a portrayal of New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, performed by Ramy Youssef. In the sketch, Trump tells Mamdani, > "For some reason that no one can figure out, I really, really like you," and adds that he enjoys spending time with him, comparing their rapport to an unlikely animal friendship. The dialogue touched on a storm affecting the East Coast, the New York Knicks’ recent championship, a United Nations meeting in the city, and Trump’s recent diplomatic engagements, including a visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping and a state dinner that featured tech leaders Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.

The scene introduced Natalie Harp, a fictionalized version of Trump’s executive assistant, portrayed by Ashley Padilla. Harp, described as resembling a character from the film “Obsession,” arrives from Washington, D.C., and later warns Mamdani, > "If you hurt him, I will end you." The sketch also marked the hosting debut of NBA player Jalen Brunson and featured musical guest Katseye, alongside the introduction of new cast members Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter.