Former President Donald Trump made a personal appearance at a bipartisan political event where he delivered zingers and got under the skin of some of his critics.
Headlining the 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner on Thursday, the Republican presidential nominee delivered jokes and took shots including at his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris who skipped the election-season event but sent a video of herself instead.
“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 jabbed at Harris, referring to when she promoted a bail fund during the 2020 riots.
“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,” he joked at another point in his keynote speech.
Trump was joined at the event at the Hilton Midtown in New York by his wife, former first lady Melania Trump, and others in attendance including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and his critics such as Attorney General Letitia James, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Gov. Kathy Hochul and more.
“Tradition holds that I’m supposed to tell a few self-deprecating jokes this evening. So here it goes,” Trump said. “Nope. I’ve got nothing. I’ve got nothing. There’s nothing to say. I guess I just don’t see the point of taking shots at myself when other people have been shooting at me for a hell of a long time.”
The crowd booed when it was announced Harris would not be there in person, making her the “first major-party presidential candidate to skip the dinner since Walter Mondale in 1984,” according to Fox News.
But out of sight was not out of mind for Trump who poked his Democrat rival and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz during his remarks.
“Unfortunately, Governor Walz isn’t here himself. But don’t worry, he’ll say that he was,” he said.
Though Trump and Schumer appeared to be having a cordial conversation at the table, the former president later said of the “glum” Democrat leader, “Considering how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president.”
Schumer’s face during Trump’s jokes and the audience’s laughter sparked a wave of social media reactions.
Chuck was mad the entire time while the entire audience was laughing
— Ian Jaeger (@IanJaeger29) October 18, 2024
No joy for Chuckles tonight 😂
— Ted Howze DVM (@Ted_Howze) October 18, 2024
Chuck Schumer is absolutely burning inside like a devil while Trump speaks at the Al Smith dinner. Look at his face!
👇👇👇. pic.twitter.com/WEWF5nBtTO— Anti-Corruption Eagle (@AntiCORPTNEagle) October 18, 2024
“There’s a group called ‘White Dudes for Harris’ but I’m not worried about them at all, because their wives and their wives’ lovers are all voting for me,” Trump said at another point.
The formal dinner benefitting Catholic charities took a more serious tone at one point when Trump reflected on God’s blessings.
“Having recently survived myself two assassination attempts,” he said.” I have a very fresh appreciation of how blessed we are by God’s Providence and his divine mercy…I was not supposed to be here tonight, that I can tell you. So with God’s help, I know there is nothing that cannot be achieved.”
Quite evident that through all the attacks politically
President Trump has grown spiritually stronger & offers a mature way to see Unity for the Nation! https://t.co/svNdjrM8fJ— Sheryl Glick (@sherylglick) October 18, 2024
He is really the only person in this entire room that can make that statement. No one else has been through with this Man has been through. We have to get him reelected.
— Yoda Trades (@MarketMovers10) October 18, 2024