Saturday Night Live's season 52 premiere opened with a satirical sketch referencing former U.S. President Donald Trump and his aide Natalie Harp. In the cold open, actor James Austin Johnson portrayed Trump, while guest Ramy Youssef played New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The scene took place at Gracie Mansion, Trump's former residence, where he tried to befriend Mamdani before being interrupted by Harp, played by Ashley Padilla. Harp's character was shown with wet hair from a Nor'easter storm, having just arrived from Washington, D.C. She responded to Trump's remark about her appearance by referencing the horror film Obsession and its character Nikki, played by Inde Navarette, before warning Mamdani not to harm Trump. Natalie Harp is a White House staffer who gained media attention this summer for her personal relationship with Trump. Resurfaced letters she wrote to him in 2023 were shared publicly, fueling speculation about the nature of their connection. The Saturday Night Live sketch sparked a range of reactions from fans. Some praised Padilla's portrayal of Harp, with one viewer calling it "spot on," while another joked that casting Padilla as Harp would "drive the Trump White House crazy." Others compared her performance favorably to her previous impersonations of figures such as Karoline Leavitt, Pam Bondi, and Kristi Noem. The White House was contacted for comment following the sketch, though no official response was immediately available. In the sketch, Trump begged Mamdani to let him stay in New York, leading to a discussion about a $21 billion housing project in Queens. The season premiere was hosted by New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, with musical guest Katseye. New episodes of Saturday Night Live will continue to air every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET.