Former President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will be the sole speaker at this year’s Al Smith charity dinner in New York, a traditionally bipartisan event that Vice President Kamala Harris has opted to skip in order to focus on battleground state campaigning. The decision by Harris to skip the event less than three weeks before the election has broken with presidential tradition, as the event is typically used to promote collegiality between candidates from both parties. Trump criticized Harris for not attending, suggesting that Catholic voters who support her “should have their head examined” due to her past actions towards Catholics.
Harris’ decision to skip the dinner is rooted in her campaign’s focus on spending time in battleground states that will decide the election, rather than in heavily Democratic New York. The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, named after the first Roman Catholic to be nominated for president by a major party, raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities and has traditionally brought together presidential candidates for a night of bipartisan camaraderie. The event has a long history of showcasing the ability of political rivals to get along, at least for one evening, with a tradition dating back to 1960.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a prominent figure in the dinner, has been critical of Democrats in the past, leading to tensions between political figures and the Catholic Church. Trump’s decision to speak at the event follows his appearance in 2020 alongside Joe Biden, who is Catholic, when the dinner was moved online due to COVID-19. Both candidates used their speeches in 2020 to appeal to Catholic voters amid the pandemic and economic challenges. The event has also seen controversy in the past, with then-President Bill Clinton and his Republican challenger not invited in 1996 reportedly due to Clinton’s veto of a late-term abortion ban.
Harris’ team has focused on engaging Catholic voters through outreach efforts across the country, working to register people to vote and connect with communities. Trump’s criticism of Harris stems from her past questioning of a federal judicial nominee’s membership in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic organization, and his views on abortion. The decision by Harris to skip the event has raised questions about the changing dynamics of political events and the potential impact on her relationship with Catholic voters. Despite the absence of Harris, Trump’s confirmation as the sole speaker at the Al Smith charity dinner highlights the continued importance of bipartisan events in the political landscape.
The event, which raises funds for Catholic charities, has been a longstanding tradition in American politics, bringing together presidential candidates to showcase their ability to interact civilly despite their political differences. Trump’s criticism of Harris for not attending the event underscores the political tensions surrounding issues related to the Catholic Church and abortion. While the dinner has historically been a lighthearted affair with candidates trading humorous barbs, recent years have seen a shift towards more serious speeches appealing to key voter groups. The decision by Harris to prioritize battleground state campaigning over attending the dinner highlights the strategic choices candidates must make in the final weeks of a presidential campaign.
