Kamala Harris faced backlash on social media for her pre-recorded video message shown at the 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner on Thursday evening.
The criticism intensified due to her absence from the event, a significant gathering that traditionally includes both major party nominees.
Kamala Harris REFUSED to show up to the Al Smith Memorial Dinner tonight in NYC, so the crowd BOOED her
Even NEW YORK CITY is turning on her, and she’s terrified.
Meanwhile, President Trump and Melania are front and center!
pic.twitter.com/InfUtCyEqc— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 18, 2024
The Al Smith Dinner is a bipartisan charity event that has become a hallmark of the election season, where nominees from both parties gather to share light-hearted jabs.
This year, Harris’s decision to skip the dinner was notable, as it marked the first time a nominee has missed the event since failed Democratic nominee Walter Mondale in 1984.
1984: Walter Mondale skips Al Smith dinner
1984: Mondale wins a grand total of 13 electoral votes
2024: Kamala Harris skips Al Smith dinner
2024: Kamala Harris wins a total of… How many electoral votes? Let’s find out.— le Sour Patch Lyds (@sourpatchlyds) October 18, 2024
The last time a presidential candidate skipped the Al Smith Dinner was in 1984, when Walter Mondale did so in an election where his opponent, Ronald Reagan, carried 49 of the 50 states. It looked like this: pic.twitter.com/L8itTUMjdL
— T.Ma (@titaniusmaxamus) October 18, 2024
In a video broadcast to the audience, comedian Molly Shannon reprised her “Saturday Night Live” character Mary Katherine Gallagher, a quirky Catholic student.
During the video, Shannon stated, “I just want to say that I’m Catholic, and tonight is one of the biggest dinners next to the Last Supper.”
Harris responded, “It is a very important dinner, and it’s an important tradition that I’m so proud to be a part of.” Shannon then displayed her character’s hallmark odd behavior, sticking her hands under her armpits and smelling them.
The conversation included light-hearted banter, with Shannon advising Harris, “Well, don’t lie. Thou shall not bear false witness to thy neighbor.”
Harris replied, “Indeed. Especially thy neighbor’s election results,” seemingly referencing former President Donald Trump.
Following the video’s screening, critics on social media, including those from the Trump campaign, expressed their thoughts.
Harris surrounds herself as much as possible with recognizable celebrities (if Molly Shannon doing one of her better known SNL bits can be called that) because it allows someone else to do much of the talking to take the pressure off of her and in the hope that the celebrities… https://t.co/Gr87qmRout
— Enguerrand VII de Coucy (@ingelramdecoucy) October 18, 2024
Colin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, posted on X, “Kamala Harris releases her pre-recorded video for the Al Smith dinner in New York that she didn’t show up for. Comedian Jim Gaffigan made fun of the Vice President after the crowd gave a dismal applause once it ended. Cringe.”
The evening’s emcee, comedian Jim Gaffigan, quipped after the video, saying, “I don’t even know what that noise you’re making is,” in reference to the audience’s reaction. He added, “As I watched that, I couldn’t help but think of: Now I know how my kids felt when … I FaceTimed into a piano recital they were at.”
NEW: Kamala Harris releases her pre-recorded video for the Al Smith dinner in New York that she didn’t show up for.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan made fun of the Vice President after the crowd gave a dismal applause once it ended.
Cringe. pic.twitter.com/9dvsYQub9h
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 18, 2024
Despite the criticism, some supporters of Harris lauded the video on social media as a “must watch,” and others praised her for skipping the dinner.
What the hell did I just watch
— ❀ Sav ❀ (@savvy167) October 18, 2024
However, former President Trump seized the opportunity to target Harris during his remarks, highlighting her absence.
Trump remarked, “If you really wanted Vice President Harris to accept your invitation, I guess you should have told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis, and she would have been here, guaranteed.” He referenced her previous promotion of a bail fund during the 2020 riots.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “But if you really wanted Vice President Harris to accept your invitation, I guess you should have told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis and she would’ve been here guaranteed.” pic.twitter.com/sRBNMBOKgJ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024
Trump also humorously commented on Harris’s absence, saying, “I must say I was shocked when I heard that Kamala was skipping the Al Smith dinner. I’d really hoped that you would come because we can’t get enough of hearing her beautiful laugh. She laughs like crazy.”
In her video, Harris concluded with a message of unity, referencing the Gospel of Luke. “The Gospel of Luke tells us that faith has the power to shine a light on those living in darkness, and to guide our feet in the path of peace. In the spirit of tonight’s dinner, let us recommit to reaching across divides, to seek understanding and common ground. And in honor of the great Al Smith, let us fight to build a better future with faith in God, our country, and in each other,” she said.
Here are some more reactions from X:
Kamala mail in effort at Al Smith Dinner is legit cringeworthy
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) October 18, 2024
This @KamalaHarris video is historically bad.
— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) October 18, 2024
Terribly bad. Even when she’s reading. pic.twitter.com/ZreO0waOms
— Jaeson Velasco (@jaesonv) October 18, 2024
The cringest thing I have ever watched
— Nony (@Nonso9111A) October 18, 2024
Kamala Harris actually slammed Donald Trump for ‘struggling to read’ his jokes at the Al Smith dinner.
A dinner that she *DID NOT ATTEND.*
And she mailed in a cringy recorded skit with an old SNL actress to cover for her non-existent sense of humor.
How can this be real? pic.twitter.com/F3XAtxBKXc
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) October 18, 2024
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