--- title: "SNL cold open features Trump, NYC Mayor Mamdani" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/media/snl-cold-open-features-trump-nyc-mayor-mamdani" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/snl-cold-open-features-trump-nyc-mayor-mamdani" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/media/snl-cold-open-features-trump-nyc-mayor-mamdani.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/snl-cold-open-features-trump-nyc-mayor-mamdani" category: "Media" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-27T15:25:30.545Z" source_reported: "2026-09-27T13:34:01.000Z" updated: "2026-09-27T15:25:30.545Z" trust_score: 54 critic_score: 77 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-27T16:30:25.203902+00:00" --- # SNL cold open features Trump, NYC Mayor Mamdani *A sketch spoofed a recent meeting between Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani, featuring a new character.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 54 of 100, higher is better. Corroborated by several independent outlets naming James Austin Johnson, Ramy Youssef and Ashley Padilla; adds +12 each. - Craft 77 of 100, higher is better. Provides context for the sketch, lists specific names, and stays factual without editorializing. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Headline is lively but body matches the comedic sketch description without exaggeration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Saturday Night Live's 52nd season opened with a cold-open sketch featuring James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump visiting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. - Ashley Padilla made her debut on SNL as Natalie Harp, an aide to Trump, who threatened Mamdani in the sketch. - The sketch referenced the nor'easter storm affecting the East Coast. - Trump compared Harp to the character Nikki from the show 'Obsession', noting she was 'like the girl from Obsession but blonde'. Saturday Night Live began its 52nd season with a cold-open sketch. James Austin Johnson appeared as Donald Trump, visiting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The sketch referenced the nor'easter storm impacting the East Coast. Ashley Padilla debuted as Natalie Harp, an aide to Trump. In the sketch, Harp threatened Mamdani, stating, "If you hurt him, I will end you." Trump, in character, compared Harp to Nikki, a character from the show 'Obsession', describing her as 'like the girl from Obsession but blonde'. ## Disagreement on sketch details While most reports agree on the core elements of the sketch, the full reports from Just Jared and Variety offer more specific dialogue. Just Jared reports Trump saying, "Isn’t she great? She’s like the girl from Obsession, but blonde." Variety reports Trump saying, "She’s like the girl from ‘Obsession’ but blonde." Both outlets attribute the line to Trump and describe Padilla's character making a "frown face" or similar expression. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific detail that Trump compared Harp to the 'Obsession' character Nikki, calling her 'like the girl from Obsession but blonde.' This detail was present in the full reports from Just Jared and Variety, and in the digests from centre-rated outlets. ## Who covered it Shares of the 16 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 69% (11) - Centre: 25% (4) - Right: 6% (1) 3 of 19 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-27T16:30:25.203902+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-27T17:30:21.572Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports focused on the sketch's depiction of the relationship between Trump and Mamdani, often characterising it as a "bromance" or an "unlikely friendship." Many highlighted Ashley Padilla's debut as Natalie Harp and her threatening line to Mamdani. Several reports noted Trump's comparison of Harp to the 'Obsession' character Nikki. Headlines from outlets like Variety and The Independent US used phrases such as "Obsession Over President" or "mocks Natalie Harp’s obsession with Trump." Mashable's digest noted Trump "crushing hard on Mamdani." ### Centre - Centre-rated reports highlighted the debut of Ashley Padilla as Natalie Harp and the sketch's spoof of the meeting between Trump and Mayor Mamdani. Just Jared, which provided a full report, focused on Padilla's debut and the specific dialogue of the sketch, including Trump's comparison of Harp to the 'Obsession' character. Internewscast's digest used the headline "SNL Returns With Skit Mocking Trump Aide Natalie Harp’s Friendship." ### Right - The single right-rated report, from the New York Post, focused on the roasting of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Its headline stated, "‘SNL’ roasts Mayor Zohran Mamdani with ‘urgent message’ for New Yorkers during nor’easter." The digest noted that Ramy Youssef mocked Mamdani in the sketch, filming a TikTok with Donald Trump during a fictional nor'easter. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 6 - high: 9 - unknown: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [NewsFinale](https://newsfinale.com/entertainment/snls-ashley-padilla-plays-natalie-harp-in-obsession-style-threat-to-mamdani) — SNL’s Ashley Padilla Plays Natalie Harp in ‘Obsession’-Style Threat to Mamdani - [Mashable](https://mashable.com/entertainment/trump-mamdani-snl-cold-open-ramy-youssef) — 'SNL' kicks off Season 52 with Trump crushing hard on Mamdani - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/snl-returns-with-skit-mocking-trump-aide-natalie-harps-friendship) — SNL Returns With Skit Mocking Trump Aide Natalie Harp’s Friendship - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/snl-natalie-harp-trump-cold-open-b3057109.html) — Saturday Night Live mocks Natalie Harp’s obsession with Trump in Season 52 premiere - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/snl-natalie-harp-trump-cold-open-b3057109.html) — Saturday Night Live mocks Natalie Harp’s obsession with Trump in Season 52 premiere - [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/tv/article-16164131/SNL-natalie-harp-skit-friendship-trump-unsettling.html) — SNL returns with Natalie Harp skit mocking her friendship with Trump - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/21ad15b4d9568f38) — Natalie Harp Mocked for Trump Devotion on SNL, Jimmy Kimmel - [Mediaite](https://mediaite.com/media/news/snl-pillories-trump-mamdani-bromance-paints-natalie-harp-as-a-trump-crazed-maniac-in-wild-season-opener) — SNL Cold Open Hits Trump, Mamdani and Natalie Harp - [HuffPost UK](https://huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/snl-donald-trump-natalie-harp_uk_6ab8be40e4b0d1543f547fa4) — 'SNL' Cold Open Puts Horror Movie Twist On Trump's Relationship With Natalie Harp - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/27/us-news/snl-roasts-mayor-zohran-mamdani-with-urgent-message-for-new-yorkers-during-noreaster) — ‘SNL’ roasts Mayor Zohran Mamdani with ‘urgent message’ for New Yorkers during nor’easter - [RollingStone](https://rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/snl-cold-open-totally-normal-natalie-harp-threatens-mamdani-trump-1235632309) — ‘SNL’ Cold Open: ‘Totally Normal’ Natalie Harp Threatens Mamdani Over Trump - [USA Today](https://usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv-streaming/2026/09/27/snl-cold-open-this-week-trump-mamdani-natalie-harp/91919590007) — 'SNL' spoofs Trump and Mamdani bromance, skewers Natalie Harp - [Just Jared](https://justjared.com/2026/09/27/snls-ashley-padilla-makes-debut-as-natalie-harp-in-cold-open-spoofing-trumps-meeting-with-mamdani) — SNL's Ashley Padilla Makes Debut as Natalie Harp in Cold Open Spoofing Trump's Meeting with Mamdani - [HuffPost](https://huffpost.com/entry/snl-cold-open-donald-trump-natalie-harp_n_6ab876a6e4b07c8d2e68ce31) — 'SNL' Cold Open Puts Horror Movie Twist On Trump's Relationship With Natalie Harp - [Variety](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/snl-mamdani-trump-natalie-harp-obsession-1236876725) — ‘SNL’ Opens Season With Mamdani Hanging Out With BFF Trump, Natalie Harp Going ‘Obsession’ Over President - [Deadline](https://deadline.com/2026/09/saturday-night-live-trump-mamdani-1237114593) — 'Saturday Night Live' Opens With Trump's Need For More Time With Mamdani - [franktrades.com](https://franktrades.com/2026/09/26/saturday-night-live-opens-season-with-riff-on-donald-trumps-need-for-more-time-with-zohran-mamdani-please-let-me-stay-here-with-you) — ‘Saturday Night Live’ Opens Season With Riff On Donald Trump’s Need For More Time With Zohran Mamdani: “Please Let Me Stay Here With You” - [The Wrap](https://thewrap.com/culture-lifestyle/culture/snl-cold-open-trump-mamdani-natalie-harp) — 'SNL' Cold Open: Trump and Mamdani Cement Friendship Over Press Ban, China President Visit and NYC's Historic Storm - [Bleeding Cool News And Rumors](https://bleedingcool.com/tv/snl-52-cold-open-trump-visits-mamdani-padillas-natalie-harp-debuts) — SNL 52 Cold Open: Trump Visits Mamdani; Padilla's Natalie Harp Debuts ## Questions **Who played Donald Trump in the SNL sketch?** James Austin Johnson played Donald Trump in the Saturday Night Live cold-open sketch. The sketch featured Trump visiting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. **Who debuted as Natalie Harp on SNL?** Ashley Padilla debuted on Saturday Night Live as Natalie Harp, an aide to Donald Trump. In the sketch, Harp threatened Mayor Zohran Mamdani. **What comparison did Trump make in the SNL sketch?** In the sketch, Donald Trump compared his aide Natalie Harp to the character Nikki from the show 'Obsession'. He described her as 'like the girl from Obsession but blonde'. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/media/snl-cold-open-features-trump-nyc-mayor-mamdani. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "SNL cold open features Trump, NYC Mayor Mamdani", https://mediabias.news/media/snl-cold-open-features-trump-nyc-mayor-mamdani