Comedian Jim Gaffigan will skip the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Banquet on Thursday, instead sending a prerecorded video message that will be played at the lighthearted bipartisan Catholic Charities event. He was surprisingly harsh in his criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris' choice.
“As you know, this event is called the Catholic Met Gala. 22 percent of Americans identify as Catholic. Catholics will be a major demographic in every battleground state. ” Gaffigan, who will host the charity dinner, said Thursday.
“I'm sorry. Why isn't Vice President Harris here?” he continued, as some in the audience jeered. “I mean, think about this: This is a room full of Catholics and Jews in New York City. This is a layup for the Democratic candidate. I mean, to defend her, I mean, she's He found time to appear on “The View,” a podcast with Howard Stern, Colbert and a longtime campaign staple, “Call Her Daddy.” You know how I feel about that? I don't think she likes me. ”
In another jab at Harris and Democrats, the comedian joked about a political “coup” against President Biden over the summer. At that time, the 46th president withdrew from the presidential race amid growing calls from members of his own party to withdraw from the campaign. Concerns about his mental acuity.
Trump speaks at Al Smith Annual Dinner, Harris sends prerecorded video
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 17: New York Governor Kathy Hochul and comedian Jim Gaffigan attend the annual Alfred E. Attend the Smith Foundation Dinner. Former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was a featured speaker at the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Banquet, with Gaffigan serving as host. The dinner is a white-tie charity event that benefits Catholic Charities and is known for politicians teasing each other. The foundation honors the late Alfred E. Smith, former New York governor and America's first Catholic presidential candidate. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
“Democrats have been telling Trump that his re-election is a threat to our democracy. In fact, they were so concerned about this threat that they staged a coup d'état to oust a democratically elected incumbent. , installed Kamala Harris,” Gaffigan said.
“In other words, all her dreams came true.”
Harris to virtually attend Catholic charity dinner headlined by rival Trump
Harris will be the first presidential candidate in 40 years not to physically attend, with the exception of a virtual dinner in 2020 during the pandemic. Catholic charity event. Walter Mondale, the unsuccessful Democratic presidential candidate in 1984, was the last candidate to miss the event.
Mr. Harris despises historic Catholics. The dinner's host, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, expressed outrage at the charity event on a podcast this week.
“Sadly Kamala Harris isn't going to be here, so it's going to be unbalanced this year,” Dolan said on Tuesday's podcast. “This is unfortunate because the essence of the night is to bring people together. The essence of the night is civility, patriotism and humor. This is not a campaign speech. This is not a campaign stop.”
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife raise their fists as they attend the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner held at the Hilton Midtown in New York on October 17, 2024. Melania Trump. (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY/AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Fox News Digital did not respond to a request for comment from the Harris campaign about the pre-recorded video message it sent for the event. The campaign previously told Fox News that Harris would be absent from Thursday's event to focus on campaigning in the battleground state of Wisconsin.
Kamala Harris plans to skip historic Al Smith dinner despite longstanding tradition
“The vice president will be campaigning in battleground states that day, and the campaign wants to make the most of the vice president's time in the battleground states as the election draws near. The vice president's team also told organizers: , the vice president has expressed her interest in attending the event, making her the first sitting president to do so,” the campaign said.
Former U.S. president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner at the Hilton Midtown in New York on October 17, 2024. , New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan (left). (Photo by: Timothy A. CLARY/AFP) (Photo by: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP, Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Harris recorded a video that was aired during the dinner, and comedian and actress Molly Shannon also participated. During Shannon's time as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” she played a Catholic student named Mary Katherine Galger, a role she reprized in the video.
President Trump praises Catholic group's multi-million-strong anti-Harris movement that appeals to church members
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 17: Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris prefaces the Alfred E. Smith Foundation Annual Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown on October 17, 2024 in New York City. He will give a lecture via video message recorded on . Comedian Jim Gaffigan will host the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner. The dinner is a white-tie charity event that benefits Catholic Charities and is known for politicians teasing each other. The foundation honors the late Alfred E. Smith, former governor of New York and America's first Catholic presidential candidate. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
“So say something. I'm giving a speech. Have you thought about what I'm going to say tonight?” Harris asked Shannon.
“Thou shalt not lie. Thou shalt not bear false witness to thy neighbor,” replied Shannon.
“Certainly, especially the election results in your neighboring countries,” Harris said, attacking Trump.
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The Al Smith Dinner began in 1946 and has raised millions of dollars for charities supporting women and children. Since then, it has grown to be a political and cultural feature of the election season. The banquet was named after Al Smith, the first Catholic presidential candidate. 42nd Governor of New York. He ran for president as a Democrat in 1928.
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