Trump Roasts Them All At Al Smith Dinner With Zinger After Zinger [WATCH]

Former President Donald Trump showcased his comedic flair during the 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City on Thursday evening.

His performance was filled with humor, as he delivered joke after joke, eliciting laughter from the audience and critics alike, who praised it as one of his funniest speeches to date.

The event, which took place at the New York Hilton Midtown, is a bipartisan political gathering that traditionally adds levity to the election season.

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The dinner, established in 1946, has raised millions of dollars for charities supporting women and children and is named after Al Smith, the first Catholic presidential candidate who served as the 42nd governor of New York.

This year’s dinner featured comedian Jim Gaffigan as the emcee.

Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump arrived at the event just after 8 p.m., where they greeted various high-profile attendees, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

During his approximately 30-minute speech, Trump roasted several notable figures present at the dinner, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and even himself.

One of the prominent topics of Trump’s humor was Vice President Kamala Harris, who notably did not attend the dinner.

This marked the first time since 1984 that a Democratic candidate skipped the event, a year when Ronald Reagan defeated Walter Mondale in the presidential race.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “My opponent feels like she does not have to be here, which is deeply disrespectful to the event and in particular to our great Catholic community — The last Democrat not to attend this important event was Walter Mondale and it did not go very well for him.” pic.twitter.com/7dwLQAeYyY

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024

Trump quipped, “If you really wanted Vice President Harris to accept your invitation, I guess you should have told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis, and she would’ve been here guaranteed.”

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “But if you really wanted Vice President Harris to accept your invitation, I guess you should have told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis and she would’ve been here guaranteed.” pic.twitter.com/sRBNMBOKgJ

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024

In addition to targeting Harris, Trump made light of Joe Biden, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D), among others.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Joe has almost disappeared from view. The only way he could be seen less is if he had a show on CNN.” pic.twitter.com/LCFpprxxzs

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “I hear that Kamala and her husband carve out some really beautiful alone time at the end of the day for an intimate dinner. Just Doug, her, and the teleprompter.” pic.twitter.com/l2r5OqTPX8

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “All polls are indicating I’m leading big with the Catholic vote, as I should be, but I don’t think Kamala has given up yet. Instead of attending tonight, she’s in Michigan receiving communion from Gretchen Whitmer.” pic.twitter.com/T8NAHcRnPm

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024

Trump also fired jabs at Kamala’s running mate Tim Walz, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, and New York Senator Chuck Schumer:

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “I used to think Democrats were crazy for saying that men have periods. But then I met Tim Walz.” pic.twitter.com/Vl92TQnfbh

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Well, I had better wrap up, because Mayor Adams told me earlier that I needed to make this one very quick… the city has reserved this room for a large group of illegal aliens coming in from Texas.” pic.twitter.com/czyeloOzYs

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Chuck Schumer is here looking very glum — 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.” pic.twitter.com/BjPY3YtcrZ

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024

His jabs at the current administration and Democratic officials resonated with the audience, underscoring the event’s tradition of blending political discourse with humor.

In contrast to Trump’s live appearance, Kamala Harris opted to send a pre-recorded video message, which has drawn scrutiny and speculation about her absence.

NEW: Kamala Harris releases her pre-recorded video for the Al Smith dinner in New York that she didn’t show up for.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan made fun of the Vice President after the crowd gave a dismal applause once it ended.

Cringe. pic.twitter.com/9dvsYQub9h

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 18, 2024

Trump’s jests at Harris’s expense, along with other political figures, fueled further commentary on her decision not to participate in the charity dinner.

Full speech:

President Trump’s FULL Set at the #AlSmithDinner pic.twitter.com/1oawf29tJq

— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) October 18, 2024

Critics and supporters have since reacted to Trump’s performance, highlighting how his ability to infuse humor into political commentary continues to engage audiences.

The Al Smith Dinner has long been a platform for candidates to showcase their personalities while raising funds for charitable causes, and this year was no exception.

As the 2024 election approaches, events like the Al Smith Dinner play a significant role in shaping public perception and candidate visibility.

Trump’s ability to navigate the political landscape with humor may serve him well as he seeks to rally support and contrast himself against his opponents.

The evening highlighted the enduring tradition of political satire and the unique role such events play in American political culture, further emphasizing the importance of personal connection and relatability among candidates.

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