As we reported, the Al Smith charity dinner was Thursday night, and former President Donald Trump rocked it with the jokes.
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris didn’t even show up, and then sent in a taped video where she needed help from Saturday Night Live alum Molly Shannon, and it was truly cringe. The whole idea of the Al Smith dinner is to show up and roast the other candidate off the cuff, not do something taped that you can edit. Trump showed up in the grand tradition, but Harris didn’t.
Jim Gaffigan just melted her over it, as we noted.
READ MORE: HOT TAKES: Al Smith Dinner Featured Trump at His Funniest Despite the Elephant (Not) in the Room
Comedian Jim Gaffigan Kills It at Charity Dinner, Smokes Kamala for Being MIA
Harris Snubs, Trump Headlines New York’s Al Smith Dinner for Catholic Charities
Harris had the nerve to attack Trump over his comments, another nasty breaking of the tradition of the event. You’re supposed to accept the roasting in good spirits. But all she has left is ridiculous attacks on Trump as her campaign implodes.
Here was the statement she released, none of which was true.
Here’s Kamala’s statement on Trump’s roast.
Her campaign is operating in a different universe. pic.twitter.com/n1meAhQ9RC
— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) October 18, 2024
Um, Kamala? You didn’t even show up. Trump killed it and had people roaring. And they booed you for not being there.
Kamala Harris REFUSED to show up to the Al Smith Memorial Dinner tonight in NYC, so the crowd BOOED her 🤣
Even NEW YORK CITY is turning on her, and she’s terrified.
Meanwhile, President Trump and Melania are front and center!
pic.twitter.com/InfUtCyEqc— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 18, 2024
But how do you know Kamala is in trouble?
When even Brian Stelter says nice things about Trump’s jokes, you know hell just might be freezing over.
🚨 POTATO HEAD PRAISES PRESIDENT TRUMP 🚨
“I thought he was funny! I thought he actually got a few great jokes in … and he took advantage of the fact that Kamala Harris wasn’t there.” pic.twitter.com/Z59frshPw3
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024
“I thought he was funny! I thought he actually got a few great jokes in!” Stelter exclaimed. He said he thought the best moment was when he made light of the assassination attempts. He thought despite the trauma of such an experience, he was still able to have a “light moment” about it. “And he took advantage of the fact that Kamala Harris wasn’t there,” Stelter added.
Abby Phillip concurred, saying it was the “subtext of this whole thing.”
Wow, will wonders never cease?
Here are the jokes Stelter was referencing that he particularly liked. Trump got in a good one about how he knows the tradition is self-deprecating jokes.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “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…”
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024
But “I’ve got nothing,” Trump said as the crowd roared.
“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…,” he continued. That was pretty good.
I think the first assassination attempt did give Trump more of a recognition of mortality and the reality of God in that moment, as he acknowledged.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Having recently survived two assassination attempts, I have a fresh appreciation of how blessed we are by God’s Providence and his divine mercy — With God’s help, I know there is nothing that cannot be achieved. pic.twitter.com/8p8LaSNuP0
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024
He spoke about “having recently myself survived two assassination attempts” and the fact that turning to look at a chart probably saved his life. “Was that luck, or was that God, and I think that was God,” he said.
“I have a fresh appreciation of how blessed we are by God’s Providence and his divine mercy…With God’s help, I know there is nothing that cannot be achieved. We can do so much good with this country and get together and unify.”
