Former President Donald Trump showcased his comedic talents on Thursday, when he roasted Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and others at the annual Al Smith Dinner for Catholic charities in New York City.
The 45th POTUS had many rolling at the annual dinner to raise funds for children with various needs in the Archdiocese of New York, though it was a jab at the absent Harris and Michigan’s governor that stole the show.
“All polls are indicating I’m leading big with the Catholic vote, as I should be,” Trump said to applause. “But I don’t think Kamala has given up yet. She hasn’t, instead of attending tonight she’s in Michigan receiving communion from Gretchen Whitmer.
“That’s not a pretty sight.”
The zinger is in reference to a recent controversial Instagram Reel of the 49th governor of Michigan feeding Doritos to a left-wing influencer that sparked condemnation from Catholics for making a mockery of the Holy Communion.
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
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Whitmer later apologized for how the stunt was “construed” after CatholicVote organized a “Rosary Rally for Religious Respect” outside of Whitmer’s home to protest, Catholic News Agency reports.
Trump continued Thursday: “Catholics, please don’t be too insulted by Kamala’s absence … if Democrats really wanted to have someone not be with us this evening, they would of just sent Joe Biden.”
The former president also made light of assassination attempts during the current election cycle, Joe Biden, CNN, ABC, and plenty of others.
“Tradition holds that I’m supposed to tell a few self-deprecating jokes this evening, so here it goes,” he said. “Nope. I’ve got nothing. There’s nothing to say.
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“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 said.
On Joe Biden: “Joe has almost disappeared from view. The only way he could be seen less is if he had a show on CNN.”
On another debate: “I know Kamala is worried because she spends a lot of time complaining I won’t agree to another debate. But the truth is I’ve debated twice this year, once against Joe Biden and once against David Muir of ABC,” Trump said.
The former president also weaved in a shot at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and his party’s embrace of transgender ideology.
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“Look on the bright side, Chuck,” Trump said. “Considering how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president.”
There was also a shot at White Dudes for Harris: “I’m not worried about them at all, because their wives and their wives’ lovers are all voting for me.”
The Don’s performance on Thursday also harkened back to his famous roast of Hillary Clinton at the same dinner during the 2016 election seven years ago, with Trump noting “I went overboard” and “I knew I was in trouble around midway through, because … even my own side was angry with me.”
“Even tonight, with all of the heated back and forth between my opponent and me at the debate last night, we have proven we can actually be civil to each other. In fact, just before taking the dais, Hillary accidentally bumped into me and she very civilly said ‘pardon me,’” Trump said at the 2016 event, prompting a huge laugh from his Democratic challenger.
“And I very politely replied, ‘let me talk to you about that after I get into office.’”
At the time of the 2016 dinner, Clinton led Trump in national polling by 5 to 10 percentage points, only to lose the 2016 election weeks later by 77 electoral votes.
Polling averages since late July compiled by the poll tracking site FiveThirtyEight show Harris currently leading Trump by 2.1 percentage points, 48.4% to 46.3%.
The three most recent polls since Oct. 9, meanwhile, are split, with one showing Trump up by two, another with Harris up by two, and a third tied.