'They might bring Biden back if polls get worse': Trump mocks Harris as she attends Al Smith virtually

Former President Donald Trump during his recent speech at the recent Al Smith charity dinner in New York, and said that President Biden, who dropped out of the presidential polls in July, might need to be brought back into the fold, because of Kamala Harris' poor performance.

"If she does any worse than the polls, they’re going to bring him back again," he said.

Trump opened his speech by expressing gratitude for the event and acknowledging the significant efforts of Cardinal Timothy Dolan and other clergy present. He reminisced about attending the dinner with his father and noted its long-standing tradition of bringing together political rivals for a night of light-hearted banter. "It’s a tremendous dinner," he said, highlighting the importance of the occasion.

However, Trump quickly pivoted to his criticism of Harris, who opted out of attending in favour of campaigning in Wisconsin. Instead, she submitted a video featuring comedian Molly Shannon. Trump quipped, “You should have told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis and then she’d be here,” underlining the perceived absence of respect for the event. He insisted, “You gotta remember that I’m here and she’s not,” a sentiment that resonated with his audience.

Trump's speech included a mix of self-deprecating humour and personal anecdotes, though he claimed to have "nothing" in terms of jokes about himself. The evening was marked by a significant presence of political figures, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, who has faced legal scrutiny, with Trump adding, “Good luck with everything,” in a tongue-in-cheek manner regarding Adams’ legal challenges.

The dinner is traditionally a platform for candidates to exchange good-natured barbs, but Trump’s remarks often felt more like a rallying cry than a comedic routine. He used the occasion to question the mental fitness of both Harris and Biden, declaring that the current president “can barely talk” and possesses “the mental faculties of a child.” He continued, “This is a person that has nothing going, no intelligence whatsoever. But enough about Kamala Harris.”

The dinner, emceed by comedian Jim Gaffigan, has been a staple for presidential candidates since the 1960s, serving as a unique opportunity for bipartisan camaraderie—albeit often laced with sharp political commentary. In this year’s iteration, the atmosphere was electric, with Trump’s familiar rhetoric drawing both laughter and applause.