“Saturday Night Live” opened season 52 with Ramy Youssef as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump in a cold open portraying them as friends. They discussed an East Coast storm, the Knicks’ championship and a U.N. meeting.
The conversation also touched on Trump’s recent hosting of Xi Jinping before Natalie Harp, played by Ashley Padilla, interrupted. Harp, Trump’s appointments secretary, evoked Nikki from “Obsession” and said she had run from D.C. “Weapons” style. Jalen Brunson hosted the premiere, with Katseye as musical guest; new cast members Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter made their debuts.
