Trump, Harris throw jabs at charity dinner

With less than three weeks until the US presidential elections and the candidates neck and neck, a charity dinner known for its lighthearted banter took a sharper turn this year. Donald Trump attended the Al Smith charity dinner with his wife, Melania, delivering a speech reminiscent of a rally, filled with jabs at his rival Kamala Harris, while also poking fun at himself in a nod to tradition.

Harris, however, broke with convention, opting to skip the event for a key campaign appearance and sending a pre-recorded skit instead.

This annual gathering aims to raise funds for women and children in need and often serves as the last opportunity for the nominees to share a stage before election day—though that did not happen this year.

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Trump acknowledged the tradition of self-deprecating humor but humorously stated, “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.” This remark referenced his survival of two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign.

He also commented on his legal troubles, saying, “and these days, it’s really a pleasure anywhere in New York without a subpoena for my appearance.”

While extending some courteous words to Democrats, Trump couldn’t resist a competitive jab. He remarked, “I didn’t like Biden very much but now I like him quite a bit,” only because Biden exited the race in July. Regarding Harris, he said, “When we win, I’ll like her, but right now, I don’t like her,” and suggested she might be “hunting” with her running mate Tim Walz.

In her pre-recorded skit, Harris, alongside Molly Shannon, took aim at Trump’s character. Shannon advised, “Don’t lie,” to which Harris replied, “Indeed,” before referencing Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results: “Especially thy neighbour’s election results.” The duo also humorously navigated the sensitivities of a Catholic event, with Shannon noting, “To criticize Detroit in Detroit” would be ill-advised.

While Harris didn’t poke fun at herself, host Jim Gaffigan took the opportunity to mock the Democrats, quipping, “President Biden couldn’t be here tonight. The DNC made sure of that,” a nod to Biden’s withdrawal from the race earlier in July amid party pressure.

In a night filled with humor and barbs, both candidates showcased their wit, albeit in very different ways.