Trump Steals Spotlight While Harris Avoids Al Smith Dinner Drama The divide between Trump and Harris deepens at New York's annual charity gala as political tensions resurface. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris were both present—a bit of a stretch—at the recent Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, but their attendance took different forms. Trump took the stage for nearly half an hour, employing the dinner's tradition of lighthearted jest, whereas Harris opted for the usual course of sending out pre-recorded remarks. Held annually to raise funds for Catholic charities, the Al Smith Dinner has been traditionally dominated by bipartisan fun, where attendees often let loose with comedic jabs at each other. The Al Smith Dinner didn’t just represent two candidates meeting around charity; it embodied the kind of political face-off reflective of something greater as America inches toward the 2024 election.

Source: New York Times October 22, 2024 12:17 UTC