Donald Trump had an awkward moment before his riotous comedy routine at the Al Smith Charity Dinner when host Jim Gaffigan noted a longtime foe behind him in the crowd.
Gaffigan, the top comedian who is currently portraying Tim Walz on Saturday Night Live, pointed out how awkward the crowd was, containing Democrats, Republicans and even independent RFK Jr. with Cheryl Hines.
‘This seating arrangement is weird, right? I mean, it looks like the plutocrats are about to play Family Feud! And the survey says… whatever you want!’
After noting that the dais featured ‘the most powerful people in New York City’ he noted who the president was sitting just in front of.
‘This room is undeniably impressive, it really is. The prestige, the wealth, the allegations… I mean, wow. And don’t feel bad if you don’t have any allegations yet! Which reminds me, Letitia James is here, she had a great year!’
Donald Trump had an awkward moment before his riotous comedy routine at the Al Smith Charity Dinner when host Jim Gaffigan noted longtime Trump foe Letitia James was there
After noting that the dais featured ‘the most powerful people in New York City’ he noted the president was sitting just in front of the New York Attorney General
Gaffigan then slyly noted: ‘She’s just back there… watching all of you. She’s watching!’
Trump appeared to go a bit stone faced as much of the rest of the elite chuckled along.
James won $454.2 million in penalties and interest from Trump for inflating his net worth to dupe lenders and insurers into giving him better terms.
Trump’s team is attempting to get the state’s court of appeals to throw out the original ruling.
The former president largely had an easy evening where he charmed the bipartisan crowd, burning much of New York and Washington’s political elite.
The white-tie dinner raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities and has traditionally offered candidates from both parties the chance to trade lighthearted barbs, poke fun at themselves, and show that they can get along — or at least pretend to — for one night in the election’s final stretch.
Others in attendance included former New York City Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio, current Mayor Eric Adams, former New York Governor George Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.
Perhaps the biggest curiosity among the media was the appearance of Kennedy Jr. and Hines.
Trump with his wife Melania Trump and Archbishop of New York Timothy M. Dolan at the Al Smith Charity Dinner
The former president largely had an easy evening where he charmed the bipartisan crowd, burning much of New York and Washington’s political elite
The pair looked tense as they attended the Al Smith charity dinner, their first formal event since RFK Jr’s rumored sexting affair with Olivia Nuzzi.
The appearance at the annual political roast and social gala comes days after the pair looked loved-up at the family compound following the death of Kennedy’s mother, Ethel.
However, the stage completely belonged to Trump, who 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.
Former President Donald Trump tore into Kamala Harris for skipping the annual Al Smith dinner in New York while surrounded with city elites
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend the 79th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner
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.
Among the luminaries in attendance were Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and New York Attorney General Letitia James
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson stood and applauded Trump’s set
‘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.
New York Mayor Eric Adams was on the other end of some jokes and a display of support from Trump. He was seated next to ex-New York Governor George Pataki
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer with a rare conciliatory moment with Trump
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.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines looked tense as they attended the Al Smith charity dinner, their first formal event since RFK Jr’s rumored sexting affair with Olivia Nuzzi
Liberal comedian Jim Gaffigan, who portrays Tim Walz on Saturday Night Live, hosted
‘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.
She 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.
