‘SNL’ Cold Open: Trump and Mamdani Cement Friendship Over Press Ban, China President Visit and NYC’s Historic Storm

President Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson) paid a surprise visit to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (Ramy Youssef) in tonight’s “Saturday Night Live” cold open. “What reckless lunatic would travel to see me in this kind of weather?” Youssef’s Mamdani asked at the top of the cold open, before Johnson’s Trump arrived to inform the mayor he had traversed through the El Niño storm to pay a visit to his unlikely pal. “For some reason that no one can figure out, I really, really like you,” the president said. “Somehow, when I’m with you, I’m just firing on all cylinders,” Trump told Mamdani. “Maybe it’s because we’re both from Queens.” In response, Youssef’s NYC mayor said, “Isn’t it funny to think I could have grown up in one of your apartment buildings in Queens?” “Not with that last name!” Johnson’s president replied. Later, “SNL” star Ashley Padilla made her debut as Trump’s executive assistant, Natalie Harp. Drenched and yet undaunted, Padilla’s Harp warned Youssef’s Mamdani, “If you hurt him, I will end you.” You can watch part of tonight’s “SNL” cold open yourself below. SNL introduces its Natalie Harp (Ashley Padilla) pic.twitter.com/Q3aA1PBCLQ— LateNighter (@latenightercom) September 27, 2026 More to come…