In a night filled with lighthearted jabs and self-deprecating humor, former President Donald Trump seized the opportunity at Thursday night’s Al Smith Dinner in New York to take aim at his Democratic opponents. He did not hold back, particularly targeting Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. While the event typically features relaxed comedic roasts, Trump’s remarks ventured beyond the usual fare. He sharply criticized both Harris and Walz, eliciting a visibly rattled response from Harris.
During his speech, Trump joked about Harris skipping the Al Smith dinner to “receive communion from Gretchen Whitmer,” referencing a recent blunder by the Michigan governor. Whitmer, in an attempt to promote the Biden-Harris administration’s CHIPS Act, faced backlash after a viral video showed her mock-feeding a Doritos chip to a podcaster in a communion-like gesture. Although Whitmer later issued an apology, Trump used the incident to bolster his argument that Democrats are increasingly out of touch with the average American.
“I must say I was shocked when I heard that Kamala was skipping the Al Smith dinner. I’d really hoped that she would come because we can’t get enough of hearing her beautiful laugh. She laughs like crazy — we would all recognize it anywhere in this room,” Trump prefaced. “All polls indicate I’m leading big with the Catholic vote, as I should be. But I don’t think Kamala has given up. Instead of attending tonight, she’s in Michigan receiving communion from Gretchen Whitmer.”
Taking a swipe at Walz, Trump added, “Unfortunately, Governor Walz isn’t here himself, but don’t worry, he’ll say that he was,” Trump started, taking a shot at Walz for his previous and false insistence that he fought in active combat. “I used to think the Democrats were crazy for saying that men had periods, but then I met Tim Walz.”
Not content to just let the humor flow, Harris’s team released a statement that indicated the vice president was on the defensive. In her response, Harris characterized Trump as a leader in decline, questioning his mental fitness and capacity to lead. “Donald Trump struggled to read scripted notes written by his handlers, repeatedly complaining that he couldn’t use a teleprompter,” her statement read.
“He stumbled over his words and lashed out when the crowd wouldn’t laugh with him. The rare moments he was off script, he went on long incomprehensible rambles, reminding Americans how unstable he’s become. And of course he made it all about himself. He may refuse to release his medical records, but every day he makes it clear to the American people that he is not up to the job.”
Here’s Kamala’s statement on Trump’s roast.
Her campaign is operating in a different universe. pic.twitter.com/n1meAhQ9RC
— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) October 18, 2024
Trump’s off-the-cuff style appears to be working to his advantage. In contrast, the vice president has had to conduct a series of rushed interviews, including one with Fox News, in an effort to regain her footing after a number of media appearances. Her absence from the Al Smith dinner only intensified the narrative that she is avoiding challenging situations—a narrative that Trump seemed eager to reinforce.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.