Saturday Night Live returned for a new season on Saturday night, and as usual, the cold open for the season premiere was a political sketch, featuring James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump.
For the first time, though, the sketch featured Trump’s controversial White House aide, Natalie Harp, played on screen by cast member Ashley Padilla.
The sketch began with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, played by guest-starring comedian Ramy Youssef, hosting Trump at Gracie Mansion, as he did in real life last week. Before Trump arrives, we see Mamdani recording a social media post to warn New Yorkers about this weekend’s storms.
Trump pays Mamdani a visit at Gracie Mansion during the nor’easter pic.twitter.com/gsTsGmoWoN
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) September 27, 2026
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
About halfway through the five-minute sketch, Padilla-as-Harp appears, after Trump says “what reckless lunatic would travel to see me in this kind of weather.” Harp, covered in rain, explains that she ran all the way from Washington in the rain, “Weapons-style.” In another horror movie reference, Trump compares her to “the girl from Obsession, but blond” after she sings him a bar of a song by Beyonce.
“Harp” then shakes Mamdani’s hand, before threatening him that “if you hurt him, I will end you.”
Trump then expressed interest in staying in New York rather than return to Washington, which Mamdani indicates he can do if he commits to funding a $21 billion housing project in Queens. Trump refuses, but agrees to do so if Mamdani follows him back on Instagram.
The sketch got a mixed reaction on social media, although Padilla’s turn as Harp got some praise.
Natalie Harp character on SNL.
Respect, Jon Ossoff. Respect. 🫡 https://t.co/G5a5FjYzRk
— Rebecca Katz (@RebeccaKKatz) September 27, 2026
Note to @nbcsnl producers: please write Natalie Harp into sketches as often as possible because Ashley Padilla plays her brilliantly, and please cast someone other than Ramy Youssef as Zohran Mamdani from now on. https://t.co/UCAiUE1ykE
— Kurt Andersen (@KBAndersen) September 27, 2026
#SNL started 15 min late here on the West Coast due to football. So another TV moment of it going live, but also tape delayed at the same time. Very similar to the confusing Trump/Natalie Harp situationship. #NYC #Noreaster #Mamdani #Trump https://t.co/mDptlFeBaw
— Greg Brian (@Gregoriancant) September 27, 2026
There being a Grey’s Anatomy AND a Zenon: The Zequel reference in this #SNL sketch has me HOWLING. https://t.co/IFWcWyTRnR
— Shelby Elpers (@shelbbs247) September 27, 2026
Photo courtesy of an X screenshot.
