Former President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, attended the annual Al Smith charity dinner in New York City on Thursday, a event that traditionally brings together presidential candidates for a night of light-hearted jokes and charity.
Vice President Kamala Harris, however, did not attend the dinner in person, opting instead to focus on campaigning in critical battleground states. She appeared via a pre-recorded video message, a decision that broke with the tradition of presidential candidates attending the event together.
Melania Trump’s attendance was notable, as she has made few public appearances with her husband during the 2024 campaign. Her presence was seen as a rare appearance and possibly a signal of more involvement in the campaign.
The Al Smith dinner, which raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities, has been a tradition since 1960, when Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy first appeared together. This year, Trump used the platform to make jokes and criticize his opponents, including Harris, whom he accused of being anti-Catholic for not attending the event in person.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who successfully brought a civil fraud case against Trump, and embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams were also in attendance. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who plays a prominent role in the dinner, reminded both candidates of the importance of graciousness in the face of election outcomes.
