Trump insults Harris at Al Smith dinner as she tours Wisconsin, mocking her claims of being the ‘father of IVF’

() – On Thursday night, former President Donald Trump insulted Vice President Kamala Harris’ family, repeatedly mispronounced her name and complained about how he was treated during his presidency, drawing occasional applause and some laughter from a friendly audience at the charity dinner. by Al Smith.

Trump’s monologue at this renowned Catholic charity event, a venue in New York City that traditionally features light banter by the two major party candidates in presidential election years, took place while Harris – who decided last month not attend the event – ​​he was concluding his sixth trip to Wisconsin, a key state, since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.

1,000 miles away, touring crucial “blue wall” states and trying to secure her most favorable path to the White House, Harris sharpened her attacks on her Republican rival by using her own words against him as the campaign enters into gear. his last weeks. “Sometimes it gets more incredible. And now the man calls himself the father of IVF,” Harris said Thursday, recalling Trump’s comment at a women-only forum. “What does that even mean?” And she accused Trump of “manipulating” the American people after he called January 6, 2021 a “day of love” on his Univision forum earlier this week.

Back in Manhattan, the former president was surrounded by a motley crew of friends, enemies and those who could qualify as both. New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan and former first lady Melania Trump flanked Trump, who may have noticed New York Attorney General Letitia James, who prosecuted a massive civil fraud case against him, looming over his shoulder. . New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, a major donor, was also present. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg sat, mostly expressionless, during the former president’s remarks.

When it was his turn to speak, Trump threw out some one-liners but mostly insulted his rivals, arguing that Harris’ absence was “deeply disrespectful” toward Catholics.

Exit polls in 2020 showed that Biden – who became the nation’s second Catholic president – ​​finished with a 5-point lead over Trump among Catholic voters. Trump beat Hillary Clinton four years earlier by a similar margin. Asked about the race in September, Pope Francis said only that Americans should “choose the lesser of two evils.”

As he has often done on the campaign, Trump disparaged the vice president’s intelligence.

“Right now, we have someone in the White House who can barely speak, can barely put two coherent sentences together, who appears to have the mental faculties of a child. There is a person who has nothing. No intelligence at all,” Trump said. “But enough about Kamala Harris.”

After ridiculing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for their support of transgender rights, Trump took a moment to acknowledge that politicians have historically used the event for some self-deprecating humor.

“No,” he said after a pause. “I don’t have anything.”

The former president also reaffirmed his support for New York Mayor Eric Adams, who was charged with corruption by federal prosecutors last month. After wishing Adams “good luck,” Trump repeated the familiar idea that the Justice Department indicted Adams for his criticism of the Biden administration’s border policy.

“You’re going to win, I think you’re going to win, I know you’re going to win, so good luck,” Trump told Adams. “Good luck. “I don’t like what they do.”

Trump was convicted earlier this year in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He has pleaded not guilty in three additional criminal cases, which he frequently claims – without evidence – are political retaliation orchestrated by Biden.

Harris was not at the dinner, which was held remotely in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, but sent a video message to attendees.

“The Gospel of Luke tells us that faith has the power to illuminate those who live in darkness, and to guide our steps along the path of peace,” Harris said. “And in honor of the great Al Smith, let us strive to build a better future with faith in God, our country and each other.”

The vice president also performed a sketch in her video with comedian Molly Shannon, who reprized her character as “Mary Katherine Gallagher” from “Saturday Night Live,” the perpetually emotional Catholic schoolgirl, who advised Harris not to “say anything negative about Catholics.” ” in his statements.

“I would never do that, no matter where I was,” Harris said, before delivering his shot. “That would be like criticizing Detroit in Detroit.”
Trump did just that last week, during a campaign stop in the Motor City, which he compared to a “developing nation.”