Trump insults Harris at Al Smith dinner while she barnstorms Wisconsin and mocks his ‘father of IVF’ claims

Former President Donald Trump stirred controversy at the Al Smith charity dinner in New York City on Thursday night, targeting Vice President Kamala Harris with a series of insults, mispronunciations of her name, and complaints about his presidency. His remarks drew mixed reactions, with laughter and cheers from an audience that appeared supportive.

While Trump delivered his monologue, Harris was nearly a thousand miles away, concluding her sixth trip to key battleground state Wisconsin. She opted to skip the dinner to focus on her campaign efforts, especially after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. During her campaign stop, Harris sharpened her critiques of Trump, particularly his recent claim of being the “father of IVF.” “What does that even mean?” she asked, expressing disbelief at his self-proclaimed title during an all-women’s town hall. Additionally, she accused Trump of “gaslighting” Americans for his characterization of the January 6 Capitol riots as a “day of love.”

At the Al Smith dinner, Trump found himself amidst a diverse crowd that included friends and foes alike. New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan and former First Lady Melania Trump were present, while New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has successfully prosecuted Trump in civil court, hovered in the background. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg maintained a mostly stoic demeanor throughout Trump’s remarks.

When it was his turn to speak, Trump focused heavily on insulting Harris and argued that her absence was disrespectful to Catholics. This is notable given that exit polls from 2020 indicated Biden, the nation’s second Catholic president, held a slight lead over Trump among Catholic voters. Trump previously fared better with this demographic during the 2016 election.

In his critique of Harris, Trump went so far as to question her intelligence. “Right now, we have someone in the White House who can barely talk, barely put together two coherent sentences,” he said, before abruptly changing the subject. He also took shots at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz regarding their support for transgender rights.

Despite the dinner’s tradition of light-hearted humor, Trump dismissed the notion of self-deprecation, quipping, “Nope, I’ve got nothing.”

In another segment of his speech, Trump expressed support for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who recently faced federal corruption charges. “You’re going to win, I think you’re going to win, I know you’re going to win, so good luck,” Trump encouraged, asserting that the charges were retaliatory for Adams’ criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies.

Trump is currently navigating multiple legal challenges, having been convicted earlier this year on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. He has pleaded not guilty in three additional criminal cases, which he claims, without evidence, are politically motivated attacks by the Biden administration.

Harris, although absent from the dinner, sent a video message highlighting the importance of faith and community. Referencing the Gospel of Luke, she encouraged attendees to work towards a better future built on shared values. In her video, she also participated in a light-hearted skit with comedian Molly Shannon, who reprised her character from “Saturday Night Live.” Shannon humorously advised Harris to avoid criticizing Catholics, to which Harris replied, “That would be like criticizing Detroit in Detroit.”

In a striking contrast, last week Trump did criticize Detroit during a campaign stop, describing the city as resembling a “developing nation,” which sparked backlash from local leaders and citizens.

As the political landscape intensifies in the lead-up to the elections, both Trump and Harris continue to leverage their platforms to challenge each other, revealing the stark divisions that define this campaign season.