Ganesh Kendale
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump on Friday made a rare public appearance together at the Al Smith charity dinner in New York City, both dressed in black-tie attire. The former president was all smiles as he arrived at the event, raising his fist and shaking hands with attendees on his way to his seat.
As the keynote speaker, Trump took the opportunity to make jabs at various topics, including his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, Mayor Eric Adams’s indictment, Melania’s recent memoir, and even his own legal troubles.
Melania Trump has been noticeably absent from the former president’s campaign trail, making this dinner one of her few public appearances over the past year. She has attended only a handful of rallies and events, often choosing to stay out of the spotlight.
The former first lady also broke with tradition by attending but not speaking at the Republican National Convention in July. When Trump spoke at the Convention, it was the last time Melania attended a major public event with her husband.
Recently, Melania has been in the public eye more frequently as she is promoting her memoir, titled “Melania.” In the book, she takes a strong stance in support of abortion rights, despite her husband’s role in the repeal of Roe v Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that had previously protected the right to abortion nationwide.
“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body?” Melania wrote. “A woman’s fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes.”
Trump slams Harris
US vice president and Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris opted not to attend the Al Smith dinner, choosing to focus on her campaign in Wisconsin. This decision marks a significant departure from the norm, as she is the first major party presidential candidate to be absent from the event in many years.
However, Harris sent a pre-recorded video that included comedian Molly Shannon playing her famous “Superstar” character, Mary Katherine Gallagher.
Trump slammed Harris for her absence during his speech.
During his address at the dinner, Donald Trump said, “But I must say, I was shocked when I heard that Kamala was skipping the Al Smith dinner,” Trump remarked. He further added, “I’d really hoped that she would come, because we can’t get enough of hearing her beautiful laugh. She laughs like crazy. We would recognize it any place in this room.”
The Al Smith dinner, a white-tie dinner, raises millions of dollars for Catholic charities and has traditionally offered candidates from both parties the chance to trade lighthearted barbs, poke fun at themselves, and show that they can get along — or at least pretend to — for one night in the election’s final stretch.
It’s often the last time the two nominees share a stage before Election Day.
