SNL Mocks Trump Aide Natalie Harp's Intense Loyalty in Season Premiere

Saturday Night Live kicked off its 52nd season by dedicating its cold open sketch to mocking President Donald Trump's close relationship with his aide Natalie Harp. The comedy show, in its premiere episode, drew parallels between Harp's unwavering loyalty to Trump and the obsessive characters depicted in the recent horror film 'Obsession.'

The sketch featured James Austin Johnson as Trump and Ramy Youssef as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Ashley Padilla made her debut as the 35-year-old Harp, entering the scene disheveled and singing a lyric from the movie.

"Baby boy you've been on my mind," Harp sang, approaching Trump. Trump, amused, turned to Mayor Mamdani and remarked, "Isn't she great. She's like the girl from Obsession but blonde."

Harp then mimicked the movie's iconic frown and assured Mamdani, "I'm kidding, I'm totally normal. I totally am normal." However, she quickly approached the mayor and whispered, "If you hurt him, I will end you."

The scene concluded with a negotiation between Mamdani and Trump, where the mayor offered to follow Trump on Instagram in exchange for a $21 billion housing project. Trump readily agreed to the Instagram follow, emphasizing Harp's unique position in his circle.

Harp has previously garnered attention for her intensely devoted attitude toward Trump, whom she has credited with saving her life. In personal letters from 2023, she wrote that Trump was "all that matters to me" and called him her "Guardian and Protector in this Life." She also confessed to forgetting to eat and sleep while working for him.

Trump himself has reportedly told associates that Harp was the only person on his team who genuinely cared about him, stating, "All of you will go off and make money... she'll never leave me."

The SNL sketch referenced specific instances of Harp's dedication. During a 2023 golf trip in Scotland, Harp ran behind Trump's golf cart when others were unavailable and later apologized in a letter for any embarrassment she may have caused. She also reportedly spent the summer of 2023 sleeping in the women's locker room at Trump's Bedminster golf club to remain close to him. In October 2023, she insisted on riding in the trunk of an SUV to a New York court appearance after being told there was no room in the motorcade.

Social media reactions to the sketch were varied. Some viewers praised Padilla's portrayal of Harp, finding it both unsettling and humorous. Others criticized the show for focusing on Trump, suggesting alternative targets for satire. One commenter noted that the skit felt like a "full-blown horror movie."

It was also reported that Harp was among a few aides, including former caddy Dan Scavino, who switched planes with Trump during an Iranian assassination threat following a NATO summit in Turkey, while cabinet secretaries and journalists remained on the original aircraft.