Trump Roasts Harris at Catholic Dinner, Sparks Outrage with ‘Father of IVF’ Comment Mock

Former President Donald Trump took to the stage at the Al Smith charity dinner on Thursday night, where he took jabs at Vice President Kamala Harris, repeatedly mispronouncing her name and complaining about his treatment during his time in office. His speech drew a mix of cheers and laughter from the predominantly supportive audience.

The annual event, a traditional Catholic fundraiser in New York City, typically features light-hearted roasts by major-party nominees during election years. This year, however, Harris chose to skip the dinner, instead wrapping up her sixth visit to the battleground state of Wisconsin since President Joe Biden announced he wouldn’t be running for re-election.

While Trump delivered his speech in Manhattan, Harris was busy traveling through key blue wall states, strengthening her path to the White House. She took the opportunity to hit back at Trump, using his own words as ammunition as the campaign heads into its final stretch.

“It just keeps getting more absurd. Now, he’s calling himself the father of IVF,” Harris quipped during a town hall in Wisconsin, referencing Trump’s recent comments. “Seriously, what does that even mean?” She also accused Trump of “gaslighting” the American people, citing his recent claim at a Univision town hall that January 6, 2021, was a “day of love.”

Back in New York, Trump was surrounded by a diverse crowd of friends, adversaries, and those who could be considered both. Among the attendees were New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, former First Lady Melania Trump, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who previously secured a major civil fraud ruling against Trump. Also present was New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, a prominent donor, and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who maintained a stoic expression throughout Trump’s remarks.

Trump’s speech featured a few jokes, but largely consisted of attacks on his political opponents. He called Harris’ absence “deeply disrespectful” to Catholics, attempting to underscore a divide. In the 2020 election, exit polls indicated that Biden, only the second Catholic president in U.S. history, had a slight edge over Trump among Catholic voters, reversing the trend from 2016 when Trump had outperformed Hillary Clinton with this demographic. Pope Francis, when asked about the upcoming election, simply advised Americans to “choose the lesser of two evils.”

As he has often done on the campaign trail, Trump insulted the vice president’s intelligence, saying, “Right now, we have someone in the White House who can barely talk, barely put together two coherent sentences, who seems to have the mental faculties of a child. There’s a person that has nothing going. No intelligence whatsoever,” before adding, “But enough about Kamala Harris.”

Trump also mocked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for their stance on transgender rights. At one point, he acknowledged the tradition of self-deprecating humor at the event, but opted out, saying, “Nope, I’ve got nothing.”

The former president went on to express support for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was recently indicted on corruption charges. Trump offered his encouragement, claiming without evidence that the Justice Department’s actions were retaliation for Adams’ 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,” he said.

Trump, who was convicted earlier this year on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records in New York, has pleaded not guilty in three other criminal cases. He often asserts, without proof, that these charges are politically motivated, orchestrated by Biden as a form of payback.

Meanwhile, though Harris was not in attendance at the dinner, she did send a video message. “The Gospel of Luke tells us that faith has the power to shine a light on those living in darkness, and to guide our feet in the path of peace,” she said, calling for unity and a commitment to building a brighter future. She was joined by comedian Molly Shannon, who reprised her “Saturday Night Live” character Mary Katherine Gallagher. Shannon humorously advised Harris not to say anything negative about Catholics. Harris delivered her punchline by saying, “That would be like criticizing Detroit in Detroit.”

Trump, however, did not hold back when he visited Detroit last week, comparing the city to a “developing nation” during a campaign stop, further intensifying the rivalry as both sides gear up for the final leg of the election season.