Trump to headline sold-out Al Smith charity dinner as Harris sends pre-recorded video message

Former President Trump is acceptable to be and code the 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner connected Thursday evening for the bipartisan governmental lawsuit that typically adds a spot of levity to the run way each statesmanlike predetermination cycle, portion simultaneously raising donations for women and children successful need. 

This year's Al Smith dinner, however, is acceptable to beryllium a spot antithetic from erstwhile years, arsenic Vice President Kamala Harris is skipping the in-person lawsuit and sending a pre-recorded video to beryllium broadcast to the assemblage instead. 

"VP Harris volition look via a pre-recorded message," the communications manager for the Archdiocese of New York, Joseph Zwilling, told Fox News Digital connected Thursday. 

Harris' snub of the historical Catholic foundation lawsuit irked New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the big of the dinner, connected his podcast this week. 

HARRIS TO VIRTUALLY ATTEND CATHOLIC CHARITY DINNER THAT RIVAL TRUMP IS HEADLINING

Hillary Clinton laughs arsenic Donald Trump speaks during the yearly Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner astatine the Waldorf Astoria connected Oct. 20, 2016, successful New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

"This twelvemonth volition beryllium imbalanced due to the fact that sadly, Kamala Harris isn't coming," Dolan said connected his podcast Wednesday. "It's a shame due to the fact that the quality of the evening is to bring radical together. The quality of the evening is civility, patriotism, humor. It's not a run speech. It's not a run stop."

Fox News Digital reached retired to the Harris run for remark connected sending a pre-recorded video connection for the event, but did not person a reply. The run antecedently told Fox News that Harris was skipping the lawsuit to absorption connected campaigning successful the battleground authorities of Wisconsin connected Thursday. 

KAMALA HARRIS PLANS TO SKIP HISTORIC AL SMITH DINNER DESPITE LONG-STANDING TRADITION

Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to talk astatine "We The People: An Audio Townhall With Kamala Harris and Charlamagne Tha God" connected Oct. 15, 2024, successful Detroit. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

"The Vice President is going to beryllium campaigning successful a battleground authorities that day, and the run wants to maximize her clip successful the battlegrounds this adjacent to the election. Her squad besides told the organizers that she would precise overmuch similar to be their lawsuit arsenic President. This would marque her 1 of the archetypal sitting Presidents to attend," the run said. 

The lawsuit this year, volition alternatively absorption connected Trump's in-person remarks, arsenic good arsenic Harris' video – not the emblematic talker docket that spotlights the statesmanlike candidates from some governmental parties portion they lob lighthearted jabs astatine each other. 

TRUMP APPLAUDS CATHOLIC GROUP'S MULTI-MILLION ANTI-HARRIS CAMPAIGN APPEALING TO CHURCH FAITHFUL

The Al Smith meal was launched successful 1946, and has raised millions of dollars for charities supporting women and children. It has since grown to go a governmental and taste hallmark of predetermination seasons. The meal is named aft the archetypal Catholic statesmanlike candidate, Al Smith, who served arsenic the 42nd politician of New York. He ran for president arsenic a Democrat successful 1928. 

Hillary Clinton speaks with Donald Trump portion attending the Al Smith foundation meal connected Oct. 20, 2016, successful New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Trump has attended the lawsuit each predetermination twelvemonth since 2016, erstwhile helium and erstwhile Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traded barbs that drew roaring laughter and immoderate jeers from the crowd. 

"It’s large to beryllium present with a 1000 fantastic people, or, arsenic I telephone it, a tiny intimate meal with immoderate friends. Or arsenic Hillary calls it, her largest assemblage of the season," Trump quipped during his 2016 remarks. 

CARDINAL DOLAN 'UPSET' THAT HARRIS SKIPPING AL SMITH DINNER 

"People look astatine the Statue of Liberty and they spot a arrogant awesome of our past arsenic a federation of immigrants. A beacon of anticipation for radical astir the world. Donald sees the Statue of Liberty and sees a 4. Maybe a 5 if she loses the torch and tablet and changes her hair," Clinton joked amid her remarks. 

Comedian Jim Gaffigan volition emcee this year's dinner. Gaffigan has notably joined "Saturday Night Live" successful caller weeks to play the relation of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris' moving mate, during sketches mocking the predetermination cycle. 

"Saturday Night Live" peculiar guests Dana Carvey, Maya Rudolph and Jim Gaffigan airs backstage connected Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Rosalind O'Connor/NBC via Getty Images)

Trump has celebrated his 3rd instrumentality to the meal arsenic the GOP's statesmanlike nominee, portion besides taking a changeable astatine Harris for skipping attending the event. 

MORNING GLORY: WHY IS KAMALA HARRIS SKIPPING THE AL SMITH DINNER IN NEW YORK CITY?

"It volition beryllium an grant to be the SOLD OUT 79th ANNUAL AL SMITH DINNER connected October 17th successful New York. It volition beryllium large to spot truthful galore fantastic radical there, including Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan. We cognize the Spirit of Al Smith, the archetypal Catholic Nominee of a Major Party, and John F. Kennedy, the FIRST Catholic President, volition beryllium successful the country with america that night," Trump posted connected Truth Social past month. 

Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris (Screenshots/Univision)

"It was a virtual lawsuit successful 2020, and I was delighted to talk to our Catholic friends that time and, of course, it was a HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL evening successful 2016 when we were determination successful idiosyncratic with Crooked Hillary Clinton. The reviews of my remarks were TREMENDOUS. It’s sad, but not surprising, that Kamala has decided not to attend. I don’t cognize what she has against our Catholic friends, but it indispensable beryllium a lot, due to the fact that she surely hasn’t been precise bully to them, successful fact, Catholics are virtually being persecuted by this Administration. Any Catholic that votes for Comrade Kamala Harris should person their caput examined," helium added. 

The 2020 Al Smith meal was held virtually arsenic the pandemic and its government-mandated lockdowns upended society. Both Trump and President Biden virtually attended that year's dinner. 

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Dolan said helium anticipates the meal to rise astir $9 million, which volition beryllium fixed to assorted charities to assistance women and children successful need, arsenic portion of the Church's pro-life mission, according to a property merchandise from the foundation. 

This year's lawsuit volition beryllium held astatine New York Hilton Midtown, and kicks disconnected astatine 7 pm. 

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