As New York City braces for a weekend nor’easter, Saturday Night Live kicked off its Season 52 premiere by skewering Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a cold open featuring Ramy Youssef, a dancing TikTok warning, and a surprise drop-in from President Trump.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani found himself at the center of late-night satire during the season 52 premiere of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Jalen Brunson. The cold open took viewers straight to the Upper East Side’s Gracie Mansion, where Mamdani—portrayed by comedian Ramy Youssef—filmed a lighthearted TikTok video instead of taking a conventional emergency tone as the city braces for an offshore nor’easter.
Storm Preparations Across the Five Boroughs
While the sketch leaned into comedy, actual city operations moved on a serious footing. Mayor Mamdani and NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) issued warnings regarding a weekend nor’easter expected to bring gusty winds reaching up to 40 mph, periods of rain totaling 1 to 1.5 inches, and potential coastal flooding during high tides from Friday afternoon through Sunday.
NYCEM Commissioner Christina Farrell pointed to low-lying spots along Staten Island’s eastern shore, the Rockaways, and Jamaica Bay as primary areas of concern for the Friday evening and Saturday morning high tides. Officials urged residents to move vehicles parked in flood-prone zones to higher ground, secure loose outdoor furniture and garbage containers, and stay away from public beaches where swimming remains prohibited following the seasonal closure on Sunday, September 13.
Gracie Mansion Meets Late-Night Comedy
Back on television, the sketch poked fun at the real-life political dynamic between Mamdani and the White House. President Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, dropped by Gracie Mansion during the cold open, referencing their actual meeting earlier in the week at the Manhattan estate on September 21, 2026.
“I’ve seen it with numerous different mayors, and I said some great ones and some not so great ones. So hopefully you’re going to be a great one. I’ll be able to say you’re going to be a great one, and you’re off to a start.”
President Trump, via Nypost
The sketch amplified that real-life praise into a full-blown comedic chummy relationship. Johnson’s Trump dubbed the mayor Mam-dreamy
and quoted Greys Anatomy
before his political aide, Natalie Harp—portrayed by Ashley Padilla—crashed the scene soaking wet and claiming she ran from Washington, D.C., weapon-style to see if the president needed anything.
The $21 Billion Punchline
The sketch wound down with a comedic negotiation over federal funding and social media reach. When Mamdani told Trump he needed to return to work, the fictional commander-in-chief insisted on staying because he enjoyed hanging out with the mayor before striking a deal.
“Only if you give us $21 billion for a housing project in Queens.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, portrayed by Ramy Youssef, via Nypost
After Trump objected, Mamdani offered a compromise: What if I follow you back on Instagram,
prompting Trump to declare It’s a done deal.
As the storm tracks moved offshore heading into Sunday night clearing out conditions for the city, the premiere left New York with a memorable mix of civic emergency reminders and political satire.