Former President Donald Trump received both cheers and boos after delivering a series of jokes at the annual white-tie Al Smith charity dinner in New York City. During his speech, Trump mocked Vice President Kamala Harris for her absence, alongside other Democratic figures present at the event, such as Senator Chuck Schumer and Attorney General Letitia James. Despite the mixed reactions to his jokes attacking Harris and other Democrats, Trump also made appeals to voters as the election was less than three weeks away, highlighting past protests in Minneapolis and implying that Harris did not attend due to alleged looting and rioting bailouts.
Trump used the opportunity to attack President Joe Biden’s cognitive ability, suggesting that Democrats would have sent Biden instead of Harris if they truly wanted someone absent at the event. The former president focused on Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, and his previous extramarital affair, receiving groans and gasps from the audience. Trump also made a transgender joke while referencing Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, who falsely claimed to have been in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. Harris responded with a sketch streamed at the event, poking fun at Trump’s recent remarks in Detroit and staying away from making jokes that might offend Catholics.
During the event, comedian Jim Gaffigan referenced the Access Hollywood tape from 2005, where Trump was recorded making inappropriate comments about women, and criticized the former president for spreading false claims about migrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. Melania Trump, Trump’s wife and former First Lady, was present when the joke was made about the Access Hollywood tape. Trump’s speech was met with criticism by Ammar Moussa, rapid response director for Harris’s campaign, who noted Trump’s struggles with scripted notes, stumbling over his words, and going on long, incomprehensible rambles, showcasing his instability.
The Al Smith charity dinner also saw Vice President Kamala Harris appearing via video link in a sketch alongside comedian Molly Shannon, who portrayed her SNL character Mary Katherine Gallagher. Harris received some boos from the crowd upon the announcement of her absence at the event, which was explained as she was campaigning in the swing state of Michigan. Harris’s campaign team responded to Trump’s speech by highlighting his unstable behavior, noting his struggle with scripted notes and going off-script for incomprehensible rambles. They criticized Trump for making the event about himself and attacking Democrats, advocating for a focus on more constructive and meaningful discourse.
Overall, the Al Smith charity dinner featured a mix of light-hearted jokes, mockery, and political commentary from various speakers, including Donald Trump and comedians like Jim Gaffigan. Trump’s speech received a combination of cheers and boos, especially when he made controversial jokes about Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democratic figures. Harris responded with a sketch poking fun at Trump’s recent comments and avoiding any offensive remarks towards Catholics. The event showcased the ongoing political divide and tension in the country as the election approached, with both sides of the political spectrum making their voices heard in different ways.
