Trump Flies Solo at NYC Charity Dinner; Harris is a No-Show
In a break from tradition, former President Donald Trump took center stage alone at the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City last night. The event, typically a bipartisan affair featuring both major party presidential candidates, saw Vice President Kamala Harris opt for a video appearance instead.
Since 1960, the New York Hilton has hosted the glitzy black-tie gathering, a staple of the campaign trail. It provides an opportunity for White House contenders to showcase their humor and generate funds for Catholic charities. But this year, things were different.
Joined by his wife Melania, Trump didn’t hold back in criticizing Harris for missing the event. “It’s very disrespectful to everyone involved,” he said, echoing an earlier social media post. “You can’t do what I just saw on that screen.”
The former president mixed his usual campaign talking points with attempts at humor, though he admitted at one point, “Ah, I got nothing,” when it came to self-deprecating jokes.
Harris, meanwhile, teamed up with “Saturday Night Live” character Mary Katherine Gallagher (played by Molly Shannon) for her video message. The pair exchanged quips about truthfulness, with Mary Katherine advising Harris not to lie—”especially thy neighbor’s election results.”
The vice president’s absence wasn’t without reason. Her team said she’d be stumping in a key battleground state, aiming to “maximize her time” as Election Day draws near. True to their word, Harris spent Thursday campaigning in Wisconsin.
Event emcee Jim Gaffigan, known for his “SNL” portrayal of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, kept things moving along. But the night’s one-sided nature was difficult to ignore.
Since 1960, the dinner has been a chance for rivals to trade barbs and show their lighter sides. The dinner, named after Al Smith, the first Catholic presidential nominee by a major party, has evolved into a significant political event.
The last time a candidate bowed out was back in 1984, when Democrat Walter Mondale couldn’t make it. This year’s shakeup highlights the increasingly tense political climate.
Trump didn’t let the opportunity to criticize his opponents slip by. He suggested Harris would have shown up if the charity supported “bail[ing] out looters and rioters in Minneapolis.” The former president also repeated claims about the current administration’s treatment of Catholics, though he offered no proof.
It’s worth noting that President Joe Biden, the second Catholic to hold the office, is a regular churchgoer. This fact didn’t seem to factor into Trump’s remarks.
The mood was significantly different from the typically joyful atmosphere of the event. In past years, candidates have good-naturedly roasted each other, drawing laughs from the crowd. However, in 2016, when both Trump and Hillary Clinton attended, the atmosphere became heated.
Trump faced backlash for his attacks on Clinton that year. She, in turn, jabbed at everything from his temperament to his alleged ties with Russia. The then-candidate Trump didn’t seem amused by her jokes.
This year’s dinner serves as a reminder of how much has changed in American politics. The ability of rival candidates to share a stage, trade jokes, and show mutual respect seems to be fading.
As the country barrels toward another contentious election, events like the Al Smith Dinner offer a glimpse into the state of political discourse. What was once a night of bipartisan ribbing has become yet another battleground in an increasingly divided nation.
We will have to wait and see whether this shift is temporary or a sign of things to come. But for now, the laughter at these gatherings seems a bit more forced, and the smiles are a little less genuine.
With the conclusion of this year’s dinner, voters are left with a question: How can we expect candidates who can’t even share a meal and a laugh to collaborate to solve the nation’s problems?
Time will tell if we can rekindle the spirit of the Al Smith Dinner—and the political civility it represents. Until then, Americans will have to endure one-sided affairs and pre-recorded video messages, a stark contrast to the lighthearted political jousting of previous years.