Donald Trump tore into Kamala Harris Thursday for skipping the annual Al Smith dinner, calling her absence ‘disrespectful’ to Catholics.
The former president delivered the attacks in black tie at a gathering of New York elites at the major fundraiser for Catholic charities. The historic campaign fixture is the same forum where he ripped Hillary Clinton in 2016, with the ex-president admitting Thursday went too far in his insults eight years ago.
Trump’s speech was packed with zingers as he ribbed a raft of prominent attendees. Much of the speech however was devoted to Harris, who had sent in a pre-taped video appearance from the White House that appeared to bomb in the room.
‘My opponent feels like she does not have to be here, which is disrespectful to the event and in particular to our great Catholic community – very disrespectful,’ Trump said.
‘The last Democrat not to attend this event was Walter Mondale and it did not go very well for him,’ he said, pointing to Mondale’s blowout loss to Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Mondale is the last Democratic presidential event to skip the event in an election year before Harris, who was campaigning in Michigan Thursday and sent her regrets.
He also went after Harris’s running mate Tim Walz: ‘This guy is calling us weird. But this is weird that the Democrat candidate is not with us tonight,’ Trump said.
‘If Dems really wanted to have someone not be with us this evening they would have just sent Joe Biden,’ he said.
Notables in the crowd included Timothy Cardinal Michale Dolan, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, New York Mayor Eric Adams, and state AG Letitia James.
Trump even admitted one of his jokes was too ‘nasty’ – after he made a reference to second gentleman Doug Emhoff’s affair with his children’s nanny during his first marriage.
‘A major issue in this race is childcare, and Kamala has put forward a concept of a plan,’ Trump said, in a rare bit of self-deprecation quoting pointing to his own ‘concept of a plan’ statement.
Then he turned his focus on his rival’s spouse. ‘The only piece of advice I would have for her in the event she wins would be not to let husband Doug anywhere near the nannies,’ Trump said.
‘Just keep them away. That’s that nasty one. That’s nasty,’ Trump said. ‘That’s too tough,’ he added.
That got Trump remarking that his own speech in 2016 where he torched Hillary Clinton went too far. Clinton attended that event and gave a fairly standard speech.
‘I was running against crooked Hillary. And I did it, and I thought it was a roast. So I was told it’s a roast. And I had the meanest guy you’ve ever seen write stuff up. And man, was the room angry.’
‘I went overboard don’t you agree. I was like terrible. Even my own side was angry at me. They said it’s too much. But I did it anyway,’ Trump said to chuckles.
‘Catholics, you’ve got to vote for me. You better remember I’m here and she’s not. I could have done that too,’ Trump said.
Trump may have been miffed, but his repeated references underscored the importance of Catholic voters who hold sway nationwide but in particular in battleground states including Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, where Trump and Harris are locked in a tight race.
He got a round of applause when he concluded, along with some audible boos.
Trump devoted several jokes to Harris running mate Tim Walz – poking fun at his stumbles over his National Guard service and saying he was in China during the Tienanmen Square.
‘Unfortunately, Governor Walz isn’t in here himself. But don’t worry, he’ll say that he was,’ Trump said, earning guffaws from the crowd.
Trump also bashed Walz for backing a Minnesota law to put feminine products in boys bathrooms.
‘I used to think the Democrats were crazy for saying that men have periods, but then I met Tim Walz,’ he said.
‘I guess I just don’t see the point of taking shots at myself when other people have been shooting at me for a long time,’ Trump said at one point.
As in other public comments, Trump was sympathetic to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, drawing similarities to his own prosecution.
‘Mayor Adams: good luck with everything. They went after you,’ Trump said while acknowledging notables.
‘I’d like to poke some fun at Eric, but I’m going to be nice. I just want to be nice because I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ for speaking out against open borders. We were persecuted,’ Trump said, following Adams’ indictment on corruption charges and widening scandals amid his circle.
Then Trump allowed himself some fun. ‘But I’ve got to say I’ve never met a person who’s a vegan who liked Turkey so much,’ referencing influence peddling allegations involving the country.
‘Chuck Schumer is here looking very glum,’ Trump said – causing the Senate majority leader to defy him but smiling and making a pair of fists.
‘But look on the bright side, Chuck. Considering how woke your party has become, If Kamala loses you still have a chance to become the first woman president,’ Trump said, earning a laugh.
‘I actually said, “Do you mind if I do that,’ he told the crowd. He said no, you gotta do what you do. He’s a pro. He’s a professional,’ Trump said of the powerful New Yorker who will still hold sway if Trump gets back in the White House.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan, who emceed the event, also hit at Harris for avoiding the event.
‘You know, this event has been referred to as the Catholic Met Gala,’ he said. ‘Twenty-two percent of Americans identify as Catholic. Catholics will be a key demographic in every battleground state.’
Harris’ video featured actress Molly Shannon, who brought back her Saturday Night Live role as Mary Katherine Gallagher, an over-anxious Catholic school girl.
Harris got off one joke at Trump’s expense after Shannon urged urged her not to say anything negative about Catholics.
Harris said she would never do such a thing. ‘That would be like criticizing Detroit … in Detroit,’ she said – recalling Trump’s recent slam on the city at the Detroit Economic Club.