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

On September 27, 2026, President Donald Trump visited New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a nor'easter storm in SNL's cold open. Mamdani quipped, "What reckless lunatic would travel to see me in this kind of weather?" before Trump arrived, explaining he had braved the storm to pay a visit to his new friend. Trump declared, "For some reason that no one can figure out, I really, really like you."

He also shared that being with Mamdani makes him feel "firing on all cylinders," likely due to their shared Queens roots. Mamdani playfully recalled, "Isn't it funny to think I could have grown up in one of your apartment buildings in Queens?" Trump retorted, "Not with that last name!" Ashley Padilla, debuting as Trump's executive assistant, Natalie Harp, warned Mamdani, "If you hurt him, I will end you."

When Mamdani asked if Trump followed his advice on dealing with Iran, the president jokingly replied, "Ooh... I could have sworn you told me to say, 'I'm going to annihilate you!' " Youssef's Mamdani joked back, "Maybe I dreamed it. You're in most of my dreams. I call you Mamdreamy." The president then claimed, "Anyway, it's been a crazy week.

I kicked out the press and hung out with the President of China. Xi! Xi!" Mamdani joked, "It's getting late. I have important work tomorrow, okay? I have to go to Bushwick and give ketamine to underprivileged bisexuals," to which Trump replied, "I don't know what any of those words mean."