Kamala Harris mocks Trump for using 'scripted notes' at Al Smith dinner in furious response to roast

The Harris campaign criticized Trump for struggling with his scripted remarks and claimed he made the event about himself
PUBLISHED OCT 19, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign hit back after Donald Trump roasted her at the Alfred E Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, which she notably skipped(Getty Images)
Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign hit back after Donald Trump roasted her at the Alfred E Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, which she notably skipped(Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign reacted strongly late Thursday night after Donald Trump delivered a light-hearted roast of her, Democrats, and certain left-wing media at the 79th Alfred E Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City - a dinner Harris chose not to attend.

Harris's campaign claimed, “Donald Trump struggled to read scripted notes written by his handlers, repeatedly complaining that he couldn’t use a teleprompter.”

Harris campaign criticizes Trump for stumbling and making dinner about himself

According to The DailyWire, they further stated, “He stumbled over his words and lashed out when the crowd wouldn’t laugh with him.”

The campaign alleged that during his unscripted moments, he went off on long, confusing tangents, suggesting he has become increasingly unstable.

The campaign's statement claimed Trump made the event “all about himself,” neglecting to mention that part of the dinner’s purpose is to share self-deprecating humor to lighten the atmosphere and ease political tensions.



 

Continuing their criticism, the campaign stated, “He may refuse to release his medical records, but every day he makes it clear to the American people that he is not up to the job.”

By skipping the charity dinner, Harris became the first presidential nominee in 40 years to miss the event.

The gathering featured several prominent New York Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the annual Alfred E. Smith Foundation Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown on October 17, 2024 in New York City. Trump was the featured speaker with comedian Jim Gaffigan as the Master of Ceremonies at the the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner. The dinner, a white-tie charity event that benefits Catholic charities, is known for political figures poking fun at one another. The foundation honors the late Alfred E. Smith, former governor of New York and America's first Catholic presidential nominee. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Trump's jabs at Kamala Harris were sharp at the charity dinner she notably skipped, marking the first time in 40 years a presidential nominee has missed the event (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Trump remarked, “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,” eliciting cheers from the audience.

Trump suggested Harris’ absence was due to her hunting with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has recently faced ridicule for his lack of knowledge about shotguns. He quipped that if the dinner's organizers had told Harris the funds would be used to bail out looters in Minneapolis, she would have attended without hesitation.

Trump roasts Harris, hinting at Biden’s potential return to the spotlight

In a light-hearted jab, Trump referred to a suggestive video involving Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, saying Harris was “in Michigan receiving Communion from Gretchen Whitmer. That’s not a pretty sight.”

He continued, addressing the crowd, “But Catholics, please don’t be too insulted by Kamala’s absence. If the Democrats really wanted to have someone not be with us this evening, they would have just sent Joe Biden.”

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE - NOVEMBER 19: U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala H
Trump pokes fun at Kamala Harris' absence from the charity dinner (Getty image)

Trump then suggested Biden might be considering a comeback, stating, “If she does any worse in the polls, they’re going to bring him back again, I think.” He added, “The only way he could be seen less is if he had a show on CNN.”

In a further critique of Biden, Trump stated, “Right now, we have someone in the White House who can barely talk, barely put together two coherent sentences, who seems to have the mental faculties of a child. It’s sad.”

He remarked, “This is a person that has nothing going, no intelligence whatsoever, but enough about Kamala Harris. Let’s get on to something else.”

Trump delivers comedic jabs at Harris and her husband

One of Trump’s standout moments was his comment about “White Dudes For Harris,” saying he wasn’t worried about them because their wives and their wives’ lovers are all voting for him. He then poked fun at Harris' plans for childcare and took a jab at her husband, Doug Emhoff, advising her to keep him away from nannies, referencing a past controversy.

As the night progressed, Trump humorously noted, “I’m supposed to tell a few self-deprecating jokes this evening,” but claimed, “I’ve got nothing. 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.”

Trump concluded by alluding to Governor Walz's absence, joking that while he won’t show up at events, he will claim he did, quipping, “I used to think the Democrats were crazy for saying that men have periods, but then I met Tim Walz.”

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