Donald Trump Takes Jab at Harris for Missing Al Smith Dinner

One of the biggest functions heading into election day is the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.  

Trump and Harris were both supposed to attend, but Harris bailed out, leaving Trump front and center, and boy did he take advantage of it.  

Phoning It In 

Even though the big dinner takes candidates off the campaign trail for the night, this dinner has always been one of the premier dinner events leading into the presidential election. It is a function that is never missed, but Harris decided she would send a pre-recorded video instead of getting roasted.  

Harris recruited SNL comedian Molly Shannon to do her video and let’s just say it did not go over very well with the crowd or online. After the video was posted, the word “cringe” was blowing up all over social media. Harris and Shannon opened up the video with Shannon dressed in her SNL character Mary Katherine Gallagher, a quirky Catholic student, stating, "I just want to say that I'm Catholic, and tonight is one of the biggest dinners next to the Last Supper.” 

Harris responded, "It is a very important dinner, and it's an important tradition that I'm so proud to be a part of. Is there anything that you think that maybe I shouldn't bring up tonight?" Shannon responded, "Well, don't lie. Thou shall not bear false witness to thy neighbor.” Harris then took her shot at Trump, replying, "Indeed. Especially thy neighbor's election results," a joke that fell completely flat.  

Trump Takes Advantage 

Donald Trump seems to love this event, and he hammed it up for everyone in the room, While the greeting for Harris was lackluster at best, everyone seemed to enjoy Trump roasting Harris, and he hit her right out of the gate.  

Trump told the crowd, "If you really wanted Vice President Harris to accept your invitation, I guess you should have told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis, and she would have been here, guaranteed. She would have been guaranteed.” 

Trump took another dig at Harris later in the evening, stating, "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.” 

Setting the Stage 

Trump did not wait until he arrived at the dinner to go after Harris. Before the event ever kicked off, Trump had hit her on Truth Social for skipping the event. He posted, "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!"  

This could definitely hurt Harris in polling, but I am not sure it will be enough to shake the board. She continues to have a small lead in the average of all polls. However, Trump is making a move on her in that arena as well, pulling within two points and taking a small lead on her in the latest ActiVote poll, but that particular poll has been a bit more Trump-friendly. Three weeks out, and this is still anyone’s race.