With less than three weeks until the U.S. presidential election, a charity dinner that is typically a lighthearted event for ribbing between candidates took on a more serious tone.
The Al Smith charity dinner, an annual event known for its tradition of candidates poking fun at themselves and each other, saw a shift this year as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris took the opportunity to roast each other from different platforms.
Donald Trump attended the event in person, accompanied by his wife Melania, while Kamala Harris chose to skip the event, instead sending a pre-recorded video skit.
The dinner, which raises funds for women and children in need, is usually one of the final moments where both presidential candidates appear together before election day.
This year, however, the two were not on the same stage, but their jabs at each other still entertained the crowd.
“I’ve had enough shots taken at me,” Trump quips
Following the tradition of self-deprecating humor at the Al Smith dinner, Trump acknowledged the expectation but joked that he didn’t feel the need to make fun of himself.
“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 quipped.
This remark appeared to reference the fact that Trump has survived two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign, including one in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed his ear during a rally.
Trump also used the moment to reference his legal challenges, saying, “It is a true pleasure to be with you this evening, and these days, it’s really a pleasure anywhere in New York without a subpoena for my appearance.”
Trump ‘likes’ Biden, but takes aim at Harris
Despite offering polite remarks about some Democrats in attendance, Trump couldn’t resist turning the moment into political one-upmanship.
Reflecting on his previous rival Joe Biden, Trump admitted, “I didn’t like Biden very much but now I like him quite a bit.” The reason, he clarified, was that Biden had exited the presidential race in July.
As for Kamala Harris, Trump suggested that he could grow to like her too—if she lost the election.
“When we win, I’ll like her, but right now, I don’t like her,” Trump said.
He also took the opportunity to poke fun at Harris for not attending the dinner in person, suggesting she might be “hunting” with her running mate, Tim Walz, a noted sportsman and gun owner.
Harris needles Trump with the Ten Commandments
Although Harris didn’t attend in person, she still found a way to participate in the evening’s humor by sending a pre-recorded skit.
Teaming up with Saturday Night Live alum Molly Shannon, Harris delivered her own brand of satire aimed at Trump.
In the skit, Shannon’s character gave Harris advice on how to address the audience, advising her to follow the Ten Commandments.
“Don’t lie,” Shannon told Harris. “Thou shalt not bear false witness to thy neighbor.”
Harris seized the opportunity to take a jab at Trump’s past efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, replying, “Indeed, especially thy neighbor’s election results.”
Shannon also cautioned Harris not to offend Catholics at a Catholic charity event, saying that would be “like criticizing Detroit in Detroit.”
This was a reference to Trump’s comments from a rally the week prior, where he suggested that the U.S. would “end up” like Detroit if Harris were to win the election.
“Biden couldn’t be here tonight,” host jokes
While Harris didn’t make fun of herself in her skit, others at the event weren’t as restrained when it came to poking fun at the Democratic candidates.
The evening’s host, comedian Jim Gaffigan, took a lighthearted jab at Joe Biden, saying, “President Biden couldn’t be here tonight. The DNC (Democratic National Committee) made sure of that.”
Biden withdrew from the presidential race earlier in the year, under pressure from Democratic leaders who wanted to clear the path for a more competitive candidate against Trump.
Gaffigan’s joke highlighted Biden’s absence from the political stage while still adding to the event’s tradition of humor.
A different tone for a charity dinner
The Al Smith charity dinner is often a light moment amid the intensity of election season, but this year’s event carried a different weight.
With both candidates locked in a tight race and political tensions running high, the event reflected the seriousness of the upcoming election.
While both Trump and Harris delivered their expected jabs, the tone of the night felt less jovial than in past years.
Still, the event fulfilled its primary goal of raising funds for a good cause, while offering the audience a chance to see a lighter side of the candidates—at least when they weren’t taking political shots at each other.
