Hilarity struck at the 79th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, where former President Donald Trump became the life of the party. At the same time, Vice President Kamala Harris opted for an embarrassing absence. Instead of mingling with a crowd that appreciates a good joke, Ms. Harris decided to appear via video, supported only by a former “Saturday Night Live” comedian. This was the first time in 40 years that a presidential candidate snubbed an invitation from the Archdiocese of New York—a move that left many heads shaking in the room.
Trump seized the opportunity and delivered a barrage of jokes aimed directly at the Vice President. In a fundraising effort for Catholic charities, he reminded the audience that he was there while she was not. Making it clear where his support lies, he encouraged Catholics to remember this absence come election time. The event was a golden chance for Trump to connect with an audience ripe for his punchlines, and he didn’t hesitate.
President Trump on the Al Smith dinner: "I thought it was a great. It was for the Catholic Church. A lot of good people, a lot of good causes. Unusually, Kamala didn't show up." pic.twitter.com/hFugwGiR9G
— Real Mac Report (@RealMacReport) October 18, 2024
The former president made the most of his stage time, even riffing on a video where Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer inelegantly fed a Dorito to a feminist podcaster. It didn’t take long for Trump to connect the dots, suggesting that if Harris really wanted to attend, she would’ve known to spin it into a fundraiser for bail funds for rioters. The sheer absurdity of the suggestion drew laughs, but it also highlighted Harris’s questionable priorities.
Trump’s commentary on Harris didn’t stop there. He threw in jabs about a fictional group, “White Dudes for Harris,” claiming he had nothing to worry about because their families ultimately side with him. Some may say he stepped outside the bounds of typical dinner jokes when he addressed Bill de Blasio, not holding back his disdain in a candid moment. It wasn’t comedy if it meant being polite, he declared, encapsulating the outspoken facet of Trump that his supporters adore.
On the other hand, Harris attempted to take a shot at Trump through her pre-recorded video, which fell flat and felt more like an echo of his jokes than a solid comeback. With a comical character from “Saturday Night Live,” she attempted to bring a twist of humor to the occasion. Still, she likely realized that skipping the event painted a clearer picture of her campaign’s disconnect with critical constituents. Even comedian Jim Gaffigan found her absence puzzling, suggesting that bypassing an audience of primarily Catholic voters could prove disastrous for anyone aiming for election.
In a comically timed punchline, Trump even cheered up the glum Chuck Schumer by joking that if Kamala lost, he might have a chance to become the first woman president. While Trump made the room roar with laughter and enthusiasm, his absent rival managed only to highlight her disconnection from the issues and the people that matter in battleground states. With Republicans taking the spotlight and fundraising upward of $10 million for Catholic charities, it’s evident who was indeed the star of the evening.