Donald Trump attended the Al Smith charity dinner customary for presidential candidates, and by most accounts, outdid himself, even with his reputation as an entertainer preceding him. His jokes landed well both with the in-person audience and viewers on social media, with X users sharing clips of his jokes hundreds of thousands of times. His masterful delivery only highlighted Harris’s absence, and the video she sent in place of her attendance seemed especially dull in comparison.
Fox News reports:
This year’s Al Smith dinner, however, was set to be a bit different from previous years, as Vice President Kamala Harris skipped the in-person event, sending a pre-recorded video instead. The 2020 Al Smith dinner was also different from previous election years, as it was held virtually amid the pandemic’s lockdowns and social distancing requirements.
Harris’s video featured SNL actress Molly Shannon playing an obsessive and socially Catholic supporter who gave a short monologue about the importance of voting for a woman who had “more heart,” “more compassion” and “had to be smart to become a top contender in a field dominated by men.” It also included a couple of jabs at former President Trump, with Shannon advising Harris not to lie and her quipping, “especially about election results,” and not to say anything negative about Catholics, and Harris responding that she would never do that, and it would be like criticizing Detroit in Detroit, referencing recent comments made by Trump that her campaign insisted were rooted in racism.
While the audience seemed to roar in laughter at Trump’s jokes throughout the night, her video appeared to fall flat, receiving minimal laughter.
Some have speculated that she chose not to attend the iconic dinner because she’s not the most talented speaker, and without the scales tipped in her favor like at the ABC presidential debate where moderators Linsey David and David Muir joined her in her debate against Donald Trump, she can’t perform — especially side by side with Donald Trump.
The campaign denied these claims however, insisting, “The Vice President is going to be campaigning in a battleground state that day, and the campaign wants to maximize her time in the battlegrounds this close to the election. Her team also told the organizers that she would very much like to attend their event as President. This would make her one of the first sitting Presidents to attend.”
Trump took advantage of her absence, joking at the dinner, “I must say I was shocked when I heard that Kamala was skipping the Al Smith dinner. I’d really hoped that you would come, because we can’t get enough of hearing her beautiful laugh. She laughs like crazy.”
Prior to the event, Trump posted on social media, “Just found out that Lyin’ Kamala is doing a video message tonight instead of being at the Al Smith Dinner. She shouldn’t be allowed to do a video message. Kamala should be there like almost every other Presidential Candidate in their History, except Walter Mondale, who lost 49-1. They didn’t give me the option of a video message, nor would I have done it. This is very disrespectful to everyone involved. She should be here, or lose the Catholic Vote!”
Fox News continues:
Dolan said he anticipates the dinner to raise roughly $9 million, which will be given to various charities to assist women and children in need, as part of the Church’s pro-life mission, according to a press release from the foundation.
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