Vice President Kamala Harris has once again made headlines by refusing to attend the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a traditional event known for bringing together presidential candidates for a night of light-hearted roasting and self-deprecating humor.
The dinner, a longstanding Catholic charity fundraiser, has become a staple of election cycles, offering candidates a chance to show some humility while helping to raise millions for charitable causes. But this year, the Democratic vice president-turned-presidential candidate has decided she has better things to do—like trying to salvage her struggling campaign.
That’s right. Harris’ campaign told CNN that she was skipping the event to stay on the campaign trail. Now, for those unfamiliar with this iconic dinner, let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t some trivial political mixer. It’s a night where nominees from both parties set aside their differences (just for a few hours) to poke fun at themselves and each other. A little humility never hurt anyone, right? But apparently, Harris has other plans.
Let’s not forget that this marks the first time in recent memory that a presidential candidate has outright refused to attend the dinner, at least under “normal” circumstances. Back in 2020, Trump and Biden didn’t attend because, well, the pandemic threw everything off. But they still made video appearances, keeping the spirit of the event alive. But not Harris. No, she’s becoming the first candidate in years to say “thanks, but no thanks” to this tradition. It seems Harris just can’t be bothered with anything that doesn’t involve a campaign stop in yet another swing state where she’s trailing behind.
Remember back in 2016 when Donald Trump took full advantage of the Al Smith dinner to roast Hillary Clinton? Sure, some people said he took it a bit far with the “light roasting,” but that’s Trump. Love him or hate him, at least he showed up, stood on that stage, and had the guts to go toe-to-toe with his opponent in front of a ballroom packed with New York elites. Meanwhile, Harris seems to be running scared from a microphone that isn’t accompanied by a teleprompter and a controlled audience.
Kamala Harris refuses to attend the historic Al Smith charity dinner before election, an event that the nominees from both parties always attend.
Candidates lightly roast each other at the event, something that Harris apparently can’t withstand.
Here’s Trump in 2016: pic.twitter.com/8qwPJit6xG
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) September 21, 2024
Instead of attending the dinner, Harris has agreed to a debate with Trump on CNN on October 23rd. Yes, you read that right—CNN, of all networks. It’s almost laughable. She’s already rejected two other debate offers from Trump, including one with Fox News. But now, with her campaign floundering and the polls showing her in dire straits, she suddenly wants another round with Trump. A debate, mind you, that’s happening just two weeks before Election Day. Nothing suspicious about that timing, right?
Trump, unsurprisingly, isn’t having it. At a rally in North Carolina, he made it clear that the debate ship has sailed. He’s already done two debates, while Harris has only done one. Now, with early voting underway, Trump pointed out that it’s simply too late to squeeze in another debate—especially one hosted by CNN, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly known for its fair treatment of conservative candidates.
“She’s had her chance,” Trump said, noting that Fox had invited them both for a debate earlier, but Harris and her team turned it down. Now that the polls are turning against her, she’s suddenly interested in sharing a stage with Trump again. Convenient, isn’t it?
This whole charade raises the question: Why is Harris so afraid of real, unscripted encounters like the Al Smith dinner or a Fox News debate? Could it be that she’s avoiding anything where she might actually have to answer tough questions or—heaven forbid—take a joke? Maybe, just maybe, she’s worried about being exposed for the out-of-touch politician she really is.
Skipping the Al Smith dinner won’t help Harris avoid the inevitable: facing the American people. And while she’s off on the campaign trail, trying to stage a last-minute comeback, Trump will be standing by, more than ready to point out every missed opportunity, every backpedal, and every awkward dodge she’s made in her bid for the presidency.
So, while Harris is out there dodging debates and skipping charity dinners, voters should be asking themselves: is this the kind of leadership we want? Or do we deserve someone who isn’t afraid to face the heat, take a joke, and—most importantly—fight for America?
