The vibe in the city
Season 52 of Saturday Night Live officially kicked off last night with host Jalen Brunson, and the cold open was an absolute mood. The sketch took us inside Grace Mansion, where we found Mayor Zohran Mamdani—played by Ramy Youssef—trying to drop an "urgent message" to New Yorkers about the nor'easter currently hitting the city.
Instead of being super serious about the storm, the Mayor was lowkey busy filming a chaotic TikTok. He was dancing to upbeat club tracks while telling everyone to "shelter in place, y’all," which honestly felt like a total main character energy moment given the weather outside.
Unexpected guests
The plot thickened when none other than President Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson) popped up at the Mayor's place. The two bonded over the fact that they’re both from Queens, which felt weirdly wholesome until the chaos really started.
Things took a turn when Natalie Harp, played by Ashley Padilla, crashed the scene. She showed up looking completely rain-soaked from the storm, mascara running down her face, claiming she "ran here from DC weapon style" because she thought the President might need her. Talk about dedication.
The deal of a lifetime
By the end of the sketch, the Mayor tried to pivot back to his responsibilities, but Trump wanted to keep hanging out. The Mayor seized the opportunity to play hardball, demanding "$21 billion for a housing project in Queens." When that didn't immediately land, the Mayor suggested a simpler trade: "What if I follow you back on Instagram?" Trump accepted instantly, declaring, "It’s a done deal."
Why it matters
This sketch set the tone for the new season by leaning hard into the current political climate and local NYC buzz, blending high-stakes policy jokes with the messy, viral nature of modern social media culture.
