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Former President Donald J. Trump was featured guest speaker at the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City while Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned in Wisconsin. served as
Hosted and chaired by His Holiness Cardinal Timothy Dolan and emceed by comedian Jim Gaffigan, this year’s sold-out fundraiser raises money for charities serving New York’s most vulnerable populations. Thousands of guests gathered for the event.
President Trump told the audience, “I will never miss an Al Smith Dinner. I remember coming here with my dad when I was young…”
Critics drag Harris over pre-recorded video ‘Cringe’ aired during Catholic charity dinner
“It’s an honor to be here to support this city and this community. This is a great community that I love. I’ve lived here for a long time and I love it.”
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump raises his fist while attending the 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Annual Dinner held at the Hilton Midtown in New York on October 17, 2024. First Lady Melania Trump. (Getty Images)
Since its founding in 1946, the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation has raised millions of dollars to support nonprofit Catholic organizations in the Archdiocese of New York. Established by Cardinal Francis Spellman in memory of Catholic New York Governor Alfred Emanuel Smith, the foundation supports organizations that provide education, medical services, and family resources.
In 2023, a record $7.3 million was raised to help New York’s poor, sick, and disadvantaged. Catholic Charities, Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center, Sisters of Life, and Inner City Scholarship Fund are among the many impactful organizations that the Foundation benefits and supports.
Last year, with the foundation’s support, 175 special needs children received support in school, more than 400 foster children received mental health treatment, 120 children received weekly coaching, and 763 Students participated in Camp Veritas.
The annual dinner is a rare opportunity for people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs to come together to support those in need. Since 1960, presidential candidates from major parties during elections have attended a banquet, exchanged some lighthearted banter, and taken a night off to draw attention to the many worthy causes supported by the Foundation.
In 1960, Vice President Richard Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy were the first presidential candidates to attend a banquet and make remarks emphasizing Al Smith’s influence and accomplishments.
As Nixon said, “Al Smith was a man greater than his party…because his ideals were as great as America itself.”
This is what the Al Smith Dinner is all about, a night of heart and soul dedicated to a common cause that benefits Americans in need.
Apparently, that was too much to ask of Harris.
Breaking with precedent, Harris declined an invitation to attend the Al Smith dinner, becoming the first presidential candidate to do so since Walter Mondale in 1984. Instead, he sent a prerecorded video message.
If there’s any doubt about Harris’ priorities, it’s that her campaign found time to appear on the raunchy podcast “Call Her Daddy,” but not to fundraise to help poor children. I want you to think about this.
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With each passing day, more Americans are reminded of Harris’ terrible history of targeting Catholics as California attorney general, U.S. senator, and U.S. vice president.
As attorney general, Harris filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the court to force the family-owned Hobby Lobby to violate its religious beliefs and pay for birth control for its employees.
Remember the harsh questions Sen. Harris used to grill Catholic judicial nominees as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee? Mr. Harris implied that his membership in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic charity whose membership included John F. Kennedy, was the reason for his disqualification.
And during her tenure as vice president, devout Catholics have been accused of domestic terrorism and violent extremism.
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It’s no wonder that 50% of Catholic voters in battleground states support Mr. Trump, while only 45% support Ms. Harris.
Kamala Harris’ absence from the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Banquet was a reminder that she cannot hide her disdain for Catholics. This confirms what Catholic voters already know: Harris is an anti-Catholic candidate.
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