Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, expressed his disappointment that Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, would not be attending the Al Smith charity dinner. The dinner, hosted annually since 1946, is known for bringing people together in a spirit of civility, patriotism, and humor, and raises millions of dollars for charity. Dolan emphasized that the evening is not a campaign speech or stop, but a chance for people to set aside bitterness and come together in a spirit of unity. Despite Harris’s absence, Dolan stressed the importance of continuing the tradition of the dinner and raising funds for those in need.
Dolan explained that the Al Smith dinner is not a political event, but rather a gathering of individuals from different backgrounds, including Catholics, in an evening that reflects New York’s diverse demographics. The event typically includes teasing and laughter, but is ultimately a grand evening that aims to promote unity and goodwill. Dolan expressed his disappointment that Harris missed an opportunity to participate in an event that could have helped turn the page on bitterness and division that is prevalent in today’s society. While there was a possibility of Harris appearing virtually, her campaign chose to focus on battleground states in the final weeks leading up to the election.
President Trump, who is expected to attend the Al Smith dinner, applauded a Catholic group’s multi-million anti-Harris campaign that appealed to church faithful. Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) PAC highlighted Harris’s absence from the historical event, noting that she would be the first presidential candidate to skip the dinner since 1984. The PAC criticized Harris for what they viewed as radical policies that clashed with Catholic teachings, as well as her history of anti-Catholic rhetoric, which they believed had alienated Catholic voters. Despite this, Harris’s campaign explained her absence as a result of prioritizing campaigning in battleground states close to the election.
The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner has featured prominent cultural, business, and political figures throughout the years, including most major party presidential nominees during election years since 1960. Dolan emphasized the importance of the dinner in raising funds for women and children in New York, and expressed hope that the tradition would continue despite Harris’s absence. The event is known for its charitable contributions and for bringing together individuals from various backgrounds for a night of unity and goodwill. Dolan stressed that the evening was not a partisan event, but an opportunity for people to come together in a spirit of fellowship and support for those in need.
Despite the disappointment expressed by Dolan and others regarding Harris’s absence, the Al Smith charity dinner continued as planned with Trump in attendance. The event, known for its tradition of raising funds for charity and promoting unity, carried on even in the absence of the Democratic presidential nominee. While Harris’s campaign cited the need to focus on battleground states in the final weeks before the election as the reason for her absence, some viewed her decision as a missed opportunity to participate in an event that sought to bring people together in a spirit of civility and goodwill. As the dinner celebrated its long-standing tradition of supporting charitable causes and fostering unity, Dolan and others hoped that the spirit of the evening would endure despite Harris’s absence.
