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    • Donald Trump attacks Kamala Harris and others at a charity dinner
    Iowa

    Donald Trump attacks Kamala Harris and others at a charity dinner

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

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    WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump used his spotlight at a Catholic charity dinner Thursday to hurl insults and attacks at targets ranging from absentee Vice President Kamala Harris to former New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio.

    At the 79th Annual Al Smith Dinner, Trump drew some groans and boos from the white-clad audience, including what he called a “nasty” joke about the collapse of Harris spouse Douglas Emhoff’s first marriage. Trump attacked Harris on a variety of issues, from her late start in the race to the way she laughed.

    “I never liked people I competed against,” Trump once said.

    The former president also called one of the other guests, DeBlasio, the “worst mayor” New York has ever had. He responded to the audience’s reaction by saying, “I don’t give a fuck,” adding, “This isn’t a comedy by the way – it’s a fact.”

    Harris, who declined an invitation to the Al Smith campaign dinner in the battleground state of Wisconsin, made milder remarks against Trump in a short video presentation.

    Trump’s appearance was reminiscent of his speech at the Al Smith Dinner in 2016, when he continually insulted Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Trump said in his speech Thursday that he “overdid it” in that speech and that his advisers were upset about it, but “I did it anyway — I didn’t care at all.”

    Predicting a similar victory in this election, Trump looked at Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and said: “Look on the bright side, Chuck – considering how woke your party has become, you still have a chance.” “To become the first female president if Kamala loses.”

    Trump, who was convicted by a New York jury in a hush-money trial in May, also protested his indictments in four criminal cases and other investigations into his conduct. He expressed sympathy for recently indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams, claiming both were targeted by the government.

    “Mayor Adams: Good luck with everything,” Trump said. “They came after you, Mayor.”

    At one point, Trump said he would follow the Al Smith Dinner tradition and tell a few “self-deprecating” jokes, then quickly announced: “No – I have nothing… there’s nothing to say.” The dinner was also attended by the former First Lady Melania Trump attended.

    The former president referred to the two assassination attempts and the entire investigation against him: “I guess I just don’t see the point in shooting myself when other people have been shooting at me for a damn long time.”

    At the end of his nearly half-hour speech, Trump turned serious and said he was considering not telling jokes over dinner, citing the many challenges facing the nation.

    “There is nothing strange about what is happening in our country,” he said.

    Harris responds via video

    The Harris video was part serious, part facetious. It featured comedian Molly Shannon, a “Saturday Night Live” alum, portraying a young Catholic girl who gave Harris advice about her speech to a predominantly Catholic audience.

    Harris was advised not to lie and cited “election results,” a reference to Trump’s ongoing protests over his defeat in the 2020 election.

    Harris was told not to say anything negative about Catholics, referring to a recent Trump rally in Michigan by saying, “That would be like criticizing Detroit in Detroit.”

    Shannon’s character also told Harris, “Don’t worry if you make a mistake – Catholic people are very forgiving.”

    Harris then spoke about the charity work funded by the Al Smith Dinner and his commitment to bipartisanship.

    Trump and Harris made no mention of the county’s many divisions — unlike comedian and dinner host Jim Gaffigan, who joked about the prospect of violence after a tense election.

    Gaffigan, who portrays Harris’ running mate Tim Walz on “Saturday Night Live,” joked: “We’ve got 19 days until the election – and probably a civil war. And you know, I’m nervous. Do you know what I mean?” . This is my first civil war, folks.

    He added: “Have we decided who wears blue and who wears grey?”

    What is the Alfred Smith Dinner?

    The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner — named after a New York governor who championed progressive causes in the early 20th century — is a fundraiser for Catholic Charities.

    It’s also something of a political throwback to a more bipartisan era.

    In previous presidential election years, the dinner gave candidates the opportunity to make jokes about their opponents and themselves, similar to press dinners in Washington, D.C

    In 2008, Democratic nominee Barack Obama and Republican nominee John McCain hosted a master class on sensationalism, joke egos and the challenges their campaigns faced amid the financial crisis.

    “Contrary to the rumors you’ve heard, I wasn’t born in a manger,” Obama joked that evening. “I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father Jor-el to save planet Earth.”

    Obama also acknowledged McCain’s storied military and political career: “There are very few of us who have served this country with the same dedication, honor and distinction as Senator McCain.”

    During his speech, McCain, who was seeking to succeed unpopular Republican President George W. Bush, joked that Obama didn’t mind nicknames like “The One.”

    “In fact, he even has a pet name for me – George Bush,” McCain said.

    McCain also said of Obama: “I can’t wish my opponent luck, but I wish him well.”

    Trump changed the script in 2016, mixing shallow jokes with pointed attacks on Clinton.

    “Hillary believes it’s important to deceive people by pursuing one public policy and a completely different private policy,” Trump said at one point, drawing boos from the crowd in Clinton’s home state of New York.

    For her part, Clinton said during Al Smith’s dinner in 2016, “It’s amazing that I’m up here after Donald… I didn’t think he would be okay with a peaceful transfer of power.”

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    Eira Gwyneth
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