At 79th Al Smith Dinner, Trump Roasts Kamala, Schumer, and Walz with Wit

Former President Donald Trump delivered a scathing roast of Vice President Kamala Harris, key Democrats, and even himself during the 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner on Thursday night. The annual charity event, known for its lighthearted jabs, became a platform for Trump to unload on his political rivals while mixing in some self-deprecating humor.

The event was notable for Harris' absence, marking her as the first major presidential nominee in decades to skip the dinner. Trump wasted no time in using her snub to his advantage.

Key moments from Trump’s roast:

• Trump began by acknowledging NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who is facing a federal criminal indictment, quipping, “Mayor Adams, good luck with everything. They went after you.”

• Taking aim at Harris, Trump said, “My opponent feels like she does not have to be here, which is deeply disrespectful… to our great Catholic community,” pointing out that the last Democrat to miss the event was Walter Mondale, who lost 49 states in 1984.

• In a biting joke, Trump claimed that Harris skipped the dinner to go hunting with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, mocking Walz for being widely ridiculed for his lack of knowledge about operating a shotgun.

Trump's takedown of Harris didn’t stop there. He referenced her soft-on-crime policies, saying, “If they told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis, she’d have been here guaranteed.” He then turned his attention to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who recently made headlines for an inappropriate video, joking that Harris was “receiving Communion from Whitmer.”

Trump’s roast of Democrats hits hard:

• He jabbed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who was in attendance, saying, “Look on the bright side, Chuck, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president.”

• Trump also mocked former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, calling him “easily the worst in our history.” In a cutting line, Trump added, “That’s not comedy, by the way. That’s fact.”

Trump’s comedic roast extended to woke culture, as he skewered “White Dudes For Harris” by joking that their wives and lovers were all voting for him instead. He also took a swipe at Kamala’s husband, Doug Emhoff, warning Harris to keep him away from the nannies, a reference to Emhoff’s controversial past.

As expected, Trump injected some humor about his own situation, particularly the many legal battles he's faced. “It’s a pleasure to go anywhere in New York without a subpoena for my appearance. Anytime I don’t get a subpoena, I’m very happy,” he quipped.

While Trump kept the crowd laughing, his remarks on the current administration were pointed and relentless. "Right now, we have someone in the White House who can barely talk... no intelligence whatsoever, but enough about Kamala Harris," he said, before launching into his final punchlines.

In true Trump fashion, the former president reminded everyone of the stakes in 2024, saying that the leadership of Harris and her Democratic allies will only lead to disaster.

Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed on Trump’s latest campaign trail moments.