Trump’s Roast at the Al Smith Dinner — More Demolition Than Dinner

4 min read1 day ago

Ah, the Al Smith Dinner — where America’s political elite come together, not to change the world, but to throw verbal jabs in the guise of charity. Once upon a time, this night was a symbol of civility, but enter Donald Trump, and what do you get? A roast that’s less “good-natured ribbing” and more “scorched earth.”

Trump strutted in as the sole speaker, ready to light up the room with his classic brand of humor — or, more accurately, his no-holds-barred attacks. His favorite target? Vice President Kamala Harris, who made the apparently unforgivable mistake of opting to campaign in battleground states rather than attend a fancy dinner in Manhattan. Harris’s decision didn’t go unnoticed, and Trump was quick to seize on it, claiming she hadn’t been “nice” to Catholics. He didn’t stop there — because why miss a chance to remind everyone that, in his world, “nice” is synonymous with “agree with me or else”?

Right-wing commentators predictably hailed his performance as “classic Trump,” showering him with praise for controlling the room like a seasoned comic. But let’s be honest: Trump’s humor comes with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. While the night should have been about raising funds for Catholic charities, the focus shifted to Trump’s endless need for the spotlight, a spotlight that seems to get dimmer each time he repeats the same tired jokes.

The left-leaning media, on the other hand, was appalled. “Disrespectful,” they called it — and not without reason. Profanity-laced and lacking the charm that once defined these evenings, Trump’s performance was another reminder that he’s more interested in stirring the pot than uplifting the mood. Instead of adding humor to the night, Trump doubled down on division, leaving little room for bipartisan goodwill, a hallmark of the event since Nixon and Kennedy shared a stage in 1960.

Meanwhile, Harris’s absence turned into another talking point. Yes, skipping this dinner broke tradition, but let’s face it — why should she waste her time when her presence in battleground states might actually make a difference in the election? Harris’s absence wasn’t about disrespecting Catholics; it was a calculated campaign move. Still, Trump framed it as yet another example of her supposed incompetence. Because in Trump’s playbook, when in doubt, drag your opponent down.

In the end, the Al Smith Dinner, a historically light-hearted event meant to showcase a rare moment of unity between political opponents, turned into another battleground for partisan jabs. Trump’s humor? More cynical than clever. Harris’s absence? Another thing for Trump to exploit.

The takeaway? The Al Smith Dinner is no longer about charity — it’s about who can lob the loudest insult. And in this hyper-partisan era, even a night of jokes can’t escape the political trenches.

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