The 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Basis Dinner kicked off on Thursday night, which can highlight former President Trump in the course of the bipartisan political occasion that usually provides a little bit of levity to the marketing campaign path every presidential election cycle.
Trump and former first woman Melania Trump had been welcomed to the occasion simply after 8 p.m., with Trump shaking palms with different high-profile company, together with Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson. Comic Jim Gaffigan is serving because the emcee of this yr’s dinner, and
The Al Smith dinner was launched in 1946, and has raised tens of millions of {dollars} for charities supporting ladies and kids. It has since grown to change into a political and cultural hallmark of election seasons. The dinner is called after the primary Catholic presidential candidate, Al Smith, who served because the forty second governor of New York. He ran for president as a Democrat in 1928.
Different attendees of the occasion embody, Legal professional Normal Letitia James – an outspoken critic of Trump who slammed him as a “con man” whereas campaigning for the AG job in 2018 – former New York Metropolis Mayor Invoice de Blasio, Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, Gov. Kathy Hochul and others.
HARRIS TO VIRTUALLY ATTEND CATHOLIC CHARITY DINNER THAT RIVAL TRUMP IS HEADLINING
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump raises his fist as he and his spouse Melania Trump attend the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Basis Dinner on the Hilton Midtown in New York, October 17, 2024. (Photograph by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP) (Photograph by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP by way of Getty Photographs) (Getty Photographs)
This yr’s Al Smith dinner, nevertheless, is about to be a bit completely different from earlier years, as Vice President Kamala Harris is skipping the in-person occasion and sending a pre-recorded video to be broadcast to the viewers as a substitute. The 2020 Al Smith dinner was additionally completely different from earlier election years, because it was held nearly amid the pandemic’s lockdowns and social distancing necessities.
“VP Harris will appear via a pre-recorded message,” the communications director for the Archdiocese of New York, Joseph Zwilling, instructed Fox Information Digital on Thursday.
Harris’ snub of the historic Catholic charity occasion irked New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the host of the dinner, on his podcast this week.
“This year will be imbalanced because sadly, Kamala Harris isn’t coming,” Dolan stated on his podcast Tuesday. “It’s a shame because the nature of the evening is to bring people together. The nature of the evening is civility, patriotism, humor. It’s not a campaign speech. It’s not a campaign stop.”
Fox Information Digital reached out to the Harris marketing campaign for touch upon sending a pre-recorded video message for the occasion, however didn’t obtain a reply. The marketing campaign beforehand instructed Fox Information that Harris was skipping the occasion to concentrate on campaigning within the battleground state of Wisconsin on Thursday.
KAMALA HARRIS PLANS TO SKIP HISTORIC AL SMITH DINNER DESPITE LONG-STANDING TRADITION
Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to talk at “We the People: An Audio Townhall With Kamala Harris and Charlamagne tha God” in Detroit on Tuesday. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Photographs for iHeartMedia)
“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,” the marketing campaign stated.
The occasion this yr will as a substitute concentrate on Trump’s in-person remarks, in addition to Harris’ video — not the everyday speaker schedule that spotlights the presidential candidates from each political events whereas they lob lighthearted jabs at one another.
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump together with his spouse Melania Trump and Archbishop of New York Timothy M. Dolan (L) attend the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Basis Dinner on the Hilton Midtown in New York, October 17, 2024. (Photograph by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP) (Photograph by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP by way of Getty Photographs) (Getty Photographs)
Previous to the occasion, Trump lambasted Harris on Fact Social for not showing in-person and steered it may value her the Catholic vote.
“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!” Trump posted.
TRUMP APPLAUDS CATHOLIC GROUP’S MULTI-MILLION ANTI-HARRIS CAMPAIGN APPEALING TO CHURCH FAITHFUL
Hillary Clinton speaks with Donald Trump whereas attending the Al Smith charity dinner on Oct. 20, 2016, in New York Metropolis. (Spencer Platt/Getty Photographs)
Trump has attended the occasion every election yr since 2016, when he and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traded barbs that drew roaring laughter and a few jeers from the group.
“It’s great to be here with a thousand wonderful people, or, as I call it, a small intimate dinner with some friends. Or as Hillary calls it, her largest crowd of the season,” Trump quipped throughout his 2016 remarks.
CARDINAL DOLAN ‘UPSET’ THAT HARRIS SKIPPING AL SMITH DINNER
“People look at the Statue of Liberty and they see a proud symbol of our history as a nation of immigrants. A beacon of hope for people around the world. Donald sees the Statue of Liberty and sees a 4. Maybe a 5 if she loses the torch and tablet and changes her hair,” Clinton joked amid her remarks.
Trump has celebrated his third return to the dinner because the GOP’s presidential nominee, whereas additionally taking a shot at Harris for skipping attending the occasion.
MORNING GLORY: WHY IS KAMALA HARRIS SKIPPING THE AL SMITH DINNER IN NEW YORK CITY?
“It will be an honor to attend the SOLD OUT 79th ANNUAL AL SMITH DINNER on October 17th in New York. It will be great to see so many wonderful people there, including Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan. We know the Spirit of Al Smith, the first Catholic Nominee of a Major Party, and John F. Kennedy, the FIRST Catholic President, will be in the room with us that night,” Trump posted on Fact Social final month.
Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. (Screenshots/Univision)
“It was a virtual event in 2020, and I was delighted to speak to our Catholic friends that day and, of course, it was a HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL evening in 2016 when we were there in person with Crooked Hillary Clinton. The reviews of my remarks were TREMENDOUS. It’s sad, but not surprising, that Kamala has decided not to attend. I don’t know what she has against our Catholic friends, but it must be a lot, because she certainly hasn’t been very nice to them, in fact, Catholics are literally being persecuted by this Administration. Any Catholic that votes for Comrade Kamala Harris should have their head examined,” he added.
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Dolan stated he anticipates the dinner to boost roughly $9 million, which might be given to numerous charities to help ladies and kids in want, as a part of the Church’s pro-life mission, in line with a press launch from the muse.
