The 2024 Al Smith Dinner: Trump, Harris, and a Night of Political Jabs
The Al Smith Dinner has long been a hallmark of U.S. political tradition, blending humor, politics, and charity into a white-tie event that gathers the country’s most influential figures. The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities, while offering a rare stage for political opponents to engage in light-hearted banter. This year’s Al Smith Dinner 2024 didn’t disappoint, with former President Donald Trump headlining the event in person and Vice President Kamala Harris making her presence felt via a pre-recorded video.
As the political landscape heats up ahead of the 2024 election, the Al Smith Dinner offered a glimpse of the race’s high stakes. In a night filled with barbs, jests, and sharp political commentary, both Trump and Harris managed to capture headlines, but for different reasons.
What Is the Al Smith Dinner?
The Al Smith Dinner is an annual charity gala hosted by the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation in New York. The event dates back to 1945 and honors Alfred E. Smith, the first Catholic to run for U.S. president on a major party ticket in 1928. The dinner traditionally occurs in October of election years, and since John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960, it has become a key stage for presidential candidates to share a platform and roast one another with humor—however thinly veiled it may be.
The event’s proceeds benefit Catholic charities, and the night serves as an opportunity for political figures to show a lighter side of themselves, often with a dash of self-deprecation. The dinner, however, has also been known to escalate into more contentious speeches, especially in years where the political climate is particularly heated.
Trump at the Al Smith Dinner 2024
Donald Trump, who had previously spoken at the Al Smith Dinner during the 2016 election, was back on the stage this year. Trump’s performance at the 2024 Al Smith Dinner was a return to form in some respects, with the former president delivering a speech filled with jabs, humor, and some notably sharp critiques.
In a room filled with politicians, business leaders, and celebrities, Trump didn’t hold back. One of his more pointed moments was directed at Kamala Harris, who had chosen to skip the event, staying on the campaign trail in Wisconsin. Trump criticized her absence, describing it as disrespectful to the Catholic community. He also didn’t shy away from personal attacks, taking aim at Harris’s intelligence and even joking about her distinctive laugh, which he said was recognizable “anywhere in the room.”
His roast of Harris didn’t stop there. In typical Trump fashion, he mispronounced her name and delivered a long-winded criticism of her perceived weaknesses, drawing both laughter and cheers from the audience. He also found time to make a pointed joke about the extramarital affairs of Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, a comment that pushed the limits of light-hearted humor.
Trump’s remarks at the Al Smith Dinner 2024 weren’t just focused on Harris. He also jabbed at New York Mayor Eric Adams, who attended despite facing charges related to illegal campaign contributions. The former president joked about Adams’ well-known veganism, saying Adams “liked Turkey too much”—a thinly veiled reference to the allegations surrounding his overseas trips.
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Kamala Harris and the Pre-Recorded Video
Although Kamala Harris was not physically present, her pre-recorded video speech drew its own share of attention. With a comedic assist from Molly Shannon, reprising her famous Mary Katherine Gallagher character from Saturday Night Live, Harris managed to balance humor with sharp political commentary.
In the skit, Harris and Shannon’s character discussed what topics to avoid at the dinner, with Shannon advising the vice president, “Don’t lie. Thou shalt not bear false witness.” Harris took this as an opportunity to jab at Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.
Harris further quipped, “That would be like criticizing Detroit in Detroit,” a reference to Trump’s earlier comments about the state of the city during a recent campaign visit. The humorous tone of Harris’s video was underlined by a more serious message, emphasizing the need for unity and charity, a core theme of the Al Smith Dinner.
Despite her absence, Harris’s campaign team justified the decision, stating that her time would be better spent focusing on battleground states like Wisconsin. Her video, though brief, was enough to remind viewers that she remains firmly in the race, undeterred by Trump’s critiques.
Jim Gaffigan: Master of Ceremonies
The night’s comedic backbone was provided by Jim Gaffigan, who took on the role of master of ceremonies. Known for his family-friendly humor and wry observations on modern life, Gaffigan kept the tone light but didn’t shy away from poking fun at both political parties.
Gaffigan delivered equal-opportunity jokes, ribbing both Trump and Harris. One of his more notable lines included a jab at Harris’s absence, saying, “This is a room full of Catholics and Jews in New York City, this is a layup for the Democratic nominee.” His ability to balance humor with pointed political commentary made him an ideal host for the evening, as he walked the tightrope between roasting the candidates and keeping the audience engaged.
The Legacy of Alfred E. Smith
It’s important to remember the historical significance of Alfred E. Smith, the man for whom the dinner is named. Who is Al Smith, you might wonder? Smith was a Democratic governor of New York and the first Catholic to receive a major party nomination for U.S. president. Though he lost the 1928 election, his legacy as a political trailblazer remains central to the foundation’s work.
The Al Smith Dinner itself serves as a reminder of Smith’s enduring legacy of service, charity, and political courage. As noted during the event, the ability to come together for a night of goodwill, even in the heat of a presidential campaign, is a testament to the spirit of democracy.
The Political Significance of the Al Smith Dinner 2024
As the presidential race heats up, events like the Al Smith Dinner provide a rare glimpse into the personalities of the candidates outside the debate stage. While the dinner is traditionally a non-partisan affair focused on charity, it also underscores the significant divide between candidates like Trump and Harris. With polls tightening and the 2024 presidential election drawing near, the Al Smith Dinner 2024 became a platform for both sides to send a message—Trump in person, Harris via video.
The latest presidential polls indicate a highly competitive race, with the Trump vs. Harris match-up too close to call in several key battleground states. As the campaigns head into the final stretch, every public appearance, even one at a charity dinner, can play a crucial role in swaying voters.
Conclusion
The Al Smith Dinner 2024 was more than just a charity event; it was a microcosm of the current political climate, showcasing the humor, tensions, and stakes of the upcoming election. With Trump taking center stage and Harris making her mark through a clever video, the night highlighted not only the personalities of the candidates but also the importance of maintaining humor and civility—even in the most contentious of times. Whether the jabs exchanged at the Al Smith Dinner will affect the race remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: both Trump and Harris understand the significance of the platform and the voters who are watching closely.
