'Saturday Night Live' kicked off its new season with a cold open parodying a recent meeting between President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, portrayed by James Austin Johnson and Ramy Youssef respectively.
The sketch depicted the two political figures as unlikely friends, riffing on Trump's apparent desire to spend more time with Mamdani following their real-life meeting earlier in the week, according to Deadline.
A subplot centered on Trump aide Natalie Harp, who appeared unexpectedly during the pair's meeting. Left-leaning outlets described the segment as taking on a horror-movie or 'obsession' tone, with Rolling Stone and HuffPost noting a threatening or unsettling edge to Harp's portrayal.
According to Variety, the sketch also touched on the storm affecting the East Coast and the Knicks' championship as topics of conversation between the Trump and Mamdani characters.
How each side covered it
Left
- Outlets highlighted the horror-movie or 'obsession' twist applied to Natalie Harp's portrayal.
- Reports noted the sketch depicted Trump and Mamdani as unlikely political best friends.
- Variety noted the sketch touched on the East Coast storm and the Knicks' championship.
“‘Totally Normal’ Natalie Harp Threatens Mamdani Over Trump” — Rolling Stone
Center
- Deadline focused on a quoted line from the sketch about Trump wanting more time with Mamdani.
- The outlet described the segment as an 'unlikely lovefest' between the two political figures.
““I Really, Really Like You”” — Deadline
Questions readers ask
What happened in the 'SNL' season premiere cold open?
'Saturday Night Live' opened its new season with a sketch featuring James Austin Johnson as President Donald Trump and Ramy Youssef as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, spoofing their recent real-life meeting and its unlikely friendliness.
Who is Natalie Harp and why was she featured in the sketch?
Natalie Harp is a Trump aide who, according to left-leaning outlets, appeared unexpectedly in the sketch during the Trump-Mamdani meeting, portrayed with a horror-movie or 'obsession' twist toward Mamdani.
What did left-leaning outlets focus on in their coverage?
Left-leaning outlets emphasized the sketch's portrayal of Natalie Harp as an unsettling or threatening presence, with some describing the segment using horror-movie framing.
What did center outlets focus on in their coverage?
Center outlet Deadline focused on the comedic 'bromance' framing between the Trump and Mamdani characters, highlighting a quoted line about Trump wanting more time with Mamdani.
Sources · 6 outlet reports
- CNNLeft-leaning‘SNL’ pokes fun at Trump and Mamdani’s relationship | CNN Business
- HuffPostLeft-leaning'SNL' Cold Open Puts Horror Movie Twist On Trump's Relationship With Natalie Harp
- Rolling StoneLeft-leaning‘SNL’ Cold Open: ‘Totally Normal’ Natalie Harp Threatens Mamdani Over Trump
- USA TodayLeft-leaning'SNL' spoofs Trump and Mamdani bromance, skewers Natalie Harp
- VarietyLeft-leaning‘SNL’ Opens Season With Mamdani Hanging Out With BFF Trump, Natalie Harp Going ‘Obsession’ Over President
- DeadlineCenter'Saturday Night Live' Opens With Trump's Need For More Time With Mamdani