‘Lunatic’ Natalie Harp Makes Unhinged ‘SNL’ Debut
thedailybeast.com • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Saturday Night Live opened its 52nd season with a cold open featuring James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump, Ramy Youssef as NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Ashley Padilla portraying Trump’s devoted aide Natalie Harp.
- The sketch depicted Harp as obsessively loyal and unsettling, parodying her fanatical devotion to Trump with creepy behavior and references to horror movie possession.
- Natalie Harp, a real-life aide to Trump, has faced media scrutiny for her intense loyalty and influence, including reportedly pushing Trump to ban certain news outlets from the White House press pool.
- Harp’s personal letters to Trump, revealing a deeply intimate and admiring tone, have further fueled public interest and criticism.
- The sketch ended with Mayor Mamdani leveraging Trump’s ego for a housing deal, highlighting a humorous power dynamic between the characters.
