"We All Know It's About Me": Trump Takes Over NYC Mayor Debate on Saturday Night Live
The latest cold open of Saturday Night Live has gone viral, and it's not just for its clever take on the increasingly contentious New York City mayoral debates. The sketch, which aired during a live broadcast, featured a star-studded cast, including Miles Teller as Andrew Cuomo, Ramy Youssef as Zohran Mamdani, and Shane Gillis as Curtis Sliwa.
The sketch began with a lighthearted jab at local anchors, including Errol Louis, played by Kenan Thompson. However, things took a turn for the absurd when James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump impersonation stormed onto the stage, claiming that the real issue in the mayoral debates was not housing, taxes, or any other topic - but rather him.
The faux-Trump confidently declared, "We all know it's about me!" as he began to sing show-stopping numbers from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. Johnson's Trump then bragged about a recent cognitive test at Walter Reed, saying he did so well that they immediately gave him an MRI.
But what really stole the show was when Johnson's Trump belted out "Music of the Night" while slowly lifting the iconic half-mask of the Phantom to his face. It was a masterclass in comedic acting and a brilliant send-up of Trump's eccentric personality.
The sketch was a clear highlight of the episode, showcasing the cast's impressive chemistry and the writers' ability to poke fun at even the most serious topics. As one Twitter user noted, "James Austin Johnson is contractually obligated to bring his Donald Trump impersonation to every SNL cold open."
The real-world implications of this sketch are just as interesting. In a city where politics can sometimes feel personal, it's refreshing to see a show like SNL use satire to comment on the absurdity of it all. As for Johnson's Trump, it seems he's here to stay - at least until the next cold open.
The latest cold open of Saturday Night Live has gone viral, and it's not just for its clever take on the increasingly contentious New York City mayoral debates. The sketch, which aired during a live broadcast, featured a star-studded cast, including Miles Teller as Andrew Cuomo, Ramy Youssef as Zohran Mamdani, and Shane Gillis as Curtis Sliwa.
The sketch began with a lighthearted jab at local anchors, including Errol Louis, played by Kenan Thompson. However, things took a turn for the absurd when James Austin Johnson's Donald Trump impersonation stormed onto the stage, claiming that the real issue in the mayoral debates was not housing, taxes, or any other topic - but rather him.
The faux-Trump confidently declared, "We all know it's about me!" as he began to sing show-stopping numbers from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. Johnson's Trump then bragged about a recent cognitive test at Walter Reed, saying he did so well that they immediately gave him an MRI.
But what really stole the show was when Johnson's Trump belted out "Music of the Night" while slowly lifting the iconic half-mask of the Phantom to his face. It was a masterclass in comedic acting and a brilliant send-up of Trump's eccentric personality.
The sketch was a clear highlight of the episode, showcasing the cast's impressive chemistry and the writers' ability to poke fun at even the most serious topics. As one Twitter user noted, "James Austin Johnson is contractually obligated to bring his Donald Trump impersonation to every SNL cold open."
The real-world implications of this sketch are just as interesting. In a city where politics can sometimes feel personal, it's refreshing to see a show like SNL use satire to comment on the absurdity of it all. As for Johnson's Trump, it seems he's here to stay - at least until the next cold open.
i mean who doesn't love a good parody of trump? and james auston johnson is literally perfect as him! 
his acting skills are on point, especially with that phantom mask moment 
it's so true that politics can feel super personal in nyc right now. but this sketch just shows how ridiculous things can get when you put satire to use. i'm def watching snl more often now just for the comedy gold 
The way he owned that stage and just went full-on ego mode was so cringeworthy and entertaining at the same time! It's like he really got into character and it's hard not to love (or hate) him for it. As a neutral observer, I think SNL did an amazing job with this sketch - they managed to poke fun at Trump without being too over-the-top or mean-spirited. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good Phantom of the Opera parody? 
. And let's be real, James Austin Johnson's Trump is definitely here to stay... but we're good with that 
.
what's up with snl bringing out trump impersonation every episode tho 
maybe they should bring in a joe biden impersonator to balance it out 
. Trump's antics were on point tho, that Phantom of the Opera number was pretty genius 
. The cast definitely brought their A-game to this one, and I'm intrigued to see where Johnson takes his Trump impression from here 
. Still, you gotta wonder if some of that "research" for the cognitive test was just a bunch of hooey 
. Guess we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out 
james austin johnson is just perfection in this role, his energy and timing are on point 
it's like he's not even trying to be funny anymore, he's just owning that character 
The guy is on point! 
. And what's with all the celebrities coming out of the woodwork to parody politicians - doesn't anyone have a better idea for satire? 
️ OMG have you seen this sketch from Saturday Night Live? 
was this guy trying to out- Trump himself? 
. The way James Austin Johnson just owns that Donald Trump impersonation is insane! 
. Can't wait to see what other hilarious cold opens this season! 
but NYC mayoral debates are getting out of hand 
Shane Gillis, Miles Teller, and Ramy Youssef as Cuomo and Sliwa were also hilarious