On the evening of October 17, the 79th annual Al Smith Charity Dinner was held at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York. Organizers announced that this Catholic-sponsored charity event raised nearly $10 million for charitable causes.
At the dinner, former President Trump, while cracking jokes about himself and others, also touched upon the seriousness of charity work and the current situation in the United States, reflecting on the two assassination attempts he had experienced.
He said, “Recently, I’ve experienced two failed assassination attempts… I have a new appreciation for God’s protection and the blessings of His mercy.” “Therefore, with God’s help, I know that nothing is impossible. We can achieve many wonderful things in this country and come together.”
Trump delivered this speech as the keynote speaker at the dinner. Former First Lady Melania Trump, a Catholic, made a rare appearance at the event.
This event, known for its humorous political speeches, attracted 1,100 attendees. They raised nearly $10 million for the charitable work of the Archdiocese of New York, setting a record.
Mary Callahan Erdoes, Vice Chair of the Foundation, welcomed Trump and the First Lady to the dinner, saying, “Your wit is unparalleled.”
Trump admitted, “I should tell a few self-deprecating jokes tonight, so here goes.” Amid laughter from the audience, Trump paused and said, “No. I’ve got nothing.”
He went on to say, “There’s nothing to say. When it’s been a long time since someone shot at me, I still don’t understand the point of shooting at me.”
For decades, the Al Smith Dinner has been a staple of the American political stage, providing a lighthearted forum for political opponents to jest and entertain television viewers.
Trump called this event a “great New York tradition.” He fondly recalled attending this event with his father, Fred Trump, in his childhood. He had served as the keynote speaker at the dinner three times during Republican presidential campaigns, with Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020 also having been keynote speakers.
This time, Trump’s running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, did not attend the dinner but made a four-minute pre-recorded video appearance.
Trump jokingly said, “The real reason she didn’t attend is that she and her running mate were hunting.” Referring to Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s recently publicized hunting trip.
Organizers told Epoch Times that Harris is the first U.S. presidential candidate to decline an invitation from the organizers since 1984.
In 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Mondale challenged President Reagan and decided not to attend the dinner.
Trump said, “His result was not ideal.” Amid laughter from the audience, Trump continued, “He lost 49 states and won one state: Minnesota.”
Trump half-jokingly, half-seriously said, “Catholics, you must vote for me. You must remember I’m here, and she (Harris) is not.”
Comedian Jim Gaffigan, serving as the emcee of the dinner, pointed out that Catholics make up about 22% of the U.S. population, “making them key voters in every battleground state.”
Harris’s campaign team did not respond to Epoch Times’ request for comment.
The nominee’s video featured comedian Molly Shannon dressed as a Catholic schoolgirl, portraying the quirky character Mary Katherine Gallagher.
In the video, Harris criticized Trump but also called for reducing political divisions. She said, “In the spirit of tonight’s dinner, let us once again commit to bridging divisions, seeking understanding, and common ground.”
In a comedic sketch on “Saturday Night Live,” Gaffigan, playing Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Walz, joked about the similarities between him and Trump, saying, “We both have thick, blonde hair.”
Though the Al Smith Dinner is organized by Catholics, it attracts individuals from various religious and political affiliations.
Senate Majority Leader and New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer sat near Trump at the dinner. Before Trump’s speech, witnesses saw them conversing while seated close together.
In between them sat New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who joked, “Can you imagine Chuck Schumer sitting on my right and Donald Trump sitting on my left?”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was once an independent and anti-Trump, now supports Trump. Trump hinted that if reelected, Kennedy would hold an important health-related position in the second Trump administration.
Kennedy’s uncle, former President John F. Kennedy, and Vice President Richard Nixon both delivered keynote speeches at the 1960 Al Smith Dinner. Organizers noted that it was the first time both major party candidates attended.
The audience and guests included CEOs, philanthropists, sports figures, media personalities, elected officials, and religious leaders.
Attendees paid $5,000 per ticket, and additional donations were received for this event. Gaffigan said at the start of the event, “Good evening, billionaires… friends, and millionaires who are not yet billionaires.”
Cardinal Dolan concluded the event in a humorous manner, saying, “Dear God, when we are speechless, which has almost never happened tonight, the best thing to say is softly, ‘thank you.'”
He expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the event.