The cold open of the new season of Saturday Night Live featured Ramy Youssef as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, getting another visit from President Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson).
It was a riff on their latest meeting earlier this week, an unlikely lovefest between the left wing mayor and the right wing commander in chief.
On SNL, though, it was Trump who couldn’t seem to get enough of Mamdani who, in contrast to the president, has enjoyed high approval ratings.
The skit presented Trump as susceptible to even the slightest hint of attention from Mamdani, who in reality has skillfully managed the relationship with moments that have flattered the president.
“Mr. President, you are here again,” Youssef’s Mamdani told Trump.
Watch on Deadline
“I missed my day one, Zohran Mamdani,” Johnson’s Trump said. “For some reason I can’t really figure out, I really, really like you.”
The mayor responded, “That’s very kind, but wouldn’t you rather be in D.C.? We’re in the middle of El Nino.”
“Oh, El Nino. We don’t like big storms, especially when they are in Spanish.”
The skit opened with Mamdani monitoring the storms on the East Coast, before he gets an unexpected visit from Trump.
“Somehow when I am with you I’m just firing on all cylinders,” Trump told him. “Maybe it is because we’re both from Queens.”
“Isn’t it funny to think I could have grown up in one of your apartment buildings in Queens?” Mamdani then asked.
“Not with that last name,” Trump said.
RELATED: ‘SNL’ Season 52 Premiere Delayed In Many Areas Due To College Football
The skit also featured the first appearance of Trump aide Natalie Harp (Ashley Padilla), who makes an unexpected appearance at the Trump-Mamdani lovefest. “I came here in case you needed anything,” she said, before singing a Beyonce verse, Baby boy, you’ve been on my mind.
“Isn’t she great? She’s like the girl from Obsession but blonde,” Trump then said to Mamdani.
Before she left, she told Mamdani, “If you hurt him, I will end you.”
The Trump-Mamdani relationship has complicated the president’s midterm message, that Democrats have fallen prey to the extremes, whether that be socialism or communism. Mamdani is one of the most prominent democratic socialists following his election last November.
Mamdani told Trump that he was “still riding high on that Knicks championship.”
Trump responded, “I went to one game, ruined the vibe, and then dipped.”
The skit ended with Trump telling Mamdani of D.C., “Don’t make me go back there.”
“Please let me stay here with you,” Trump pleads with the mayor.
“Okay, only if you give us $21 billion for a housing project in Queens,” Mamdani said.
“Are you out of your mind?” Trump said.
“What if I follow you back on Instagram?” Mamdani asked.
“It’s a done deal,” Trump said.
More to come.
