Trump Takes Center Stage at Al Smith Dinner
Donald Trump commanded attention at the Al Smith Dinner on October 17, 2024, delivering humorous jabs at Democrats, immigrants, and his political rivals during this traditional election-year gathering.
Jokes at the Expense of Rivals
Standing alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Trump noted Schumer’s somber demeanor, quipping, “Look on the bright side, Chuck. Given how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you might still have a shot at being the first woman president.”
Trump’s humor didn’t stop there. He joked, “I used to think Democrats were crazy for claiming men have periods. But then I met Tim Walz,” eliciting laughter from the audience.
Critique of Kamala Harris
Trump also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for skipping the event, remarking that it was “deeply disrespectful” not to attend such a significant gathering, especially for the Catholic community. Instead, Harris chose to campaign in Wisconsin, sending a video message featuring Molly Shannon reprising her famous Saturday Night Live character, Mary Katherine Gallagher.
A Night for Tradition
The Al Smith Dinner, which benefits the Alfred E. Smith Foundation, has a history of uniting political and media figures, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan presiding over the evening.
Reflecting on the event’s tradition, Trump remarked, “Tradition holds that I should share a few self-deprecating jokes this evening. So here it goes. Nope. I’ve got nothing.” The audience responded with laughter and cheers. He added, “I guess I don’t see the point of taking shots at myself when others have been shooting at me for a hell of a long time.”
Targeting Mayor Eric Adams
Trump also targeted New York City Mayor Eric Adams in his remarks, referencing the ongoing immigration debate. He joked, “Mayor Adams told me I needed to be brief since the city reserved this room for a large group of illegal immigrants coming in from Texas.”
He further commented on Adams’ legal troubles, drawing parallels to his own challenges: “Good luck with everything. They went after you… Nine and a half months ago, I predicted he’d be indicted for saying something bad about the administration. And guess what happened? But you are going to win. I believe that.”
Mixed Reactions
While most of Trump’s jokes were well-received, a few fell flat, including comments about “Barack Hussein Obama” and his grievances regarding “fake news.”
The evening’s emcee, Jim Gaffigan, also took some playful shots at Trump. Referring to a previous debate, Gaffigan said, “During the first and only debate, President Trump claimed migrants were taking cats and eating them. If you’re keeping track, this is the second time grabbing a kitty has been part of a campaign issue.” This joke received mixed reactions, prompting Gaffigan to remark, “I was going to leave that out.”
