The Al Smith charity dinner in New York is typically a lighthearted and bipartisan political event, but this year, things are taking a different turn. Former President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will be the sole featured speaker at the upcoming event on October 17th. The dinner, which benefits Catholic Charities, has traditionally been a night for presidential candidates from both parties to come together, trade barbs, and show a sense of collegiality.
However, this year, Vice President Kamala Harris has decided to skip the event in order to focus on campaigning in battleground states ahead of Election Day. This decision has drawn criticism from Trump, who called it “sad, but not surprising” in a post on Truth Social.
The Al Smith dinner, named after the first Roman Catholic to be nominated for president by a major party, raises millions of dollars for charity and has been a tradition for presidential candidates since the iconic Nixon-Kennedy appearance in 1960. Trump and Joe Biden both spoke at the fundraiser in 2020, using the platform to appeal to Catholic voters.
The decision by Harris to skip the event has sparked controversy and raised questions about the future of bipartisanship in American politics. Only time will tell if this year’s dinner will bring politicians together or further divide them.
The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner promises to be an event to watch, with Trump as the main attraction and Harris campaigning in key battleground states. Will this year’s dinner be a display of unity or division? Stay tuned to find out.
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Meg Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina, and can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP.
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