Al Smith Dinner: Melania and Trump make rare public appearance together as Kamala Harris skips

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City, USA, on October 17, 2024. (Reuters)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump made a rare public appearance together at the Al Smith charity dinner in New York City on Friday, both in black tie. The former president smiled as he arrived at the event, raising his fist and shaking hands with attendees as he made his way to his seat.
As the keynote speaker, Trump used the opportunity to address a variety of topics, including his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams, Melania's recent memoir and even his own legal troubles.
Melania Trump was conspicuously absent from the former president's campaign, making this dinner one of her few public appearances last year. She has only attended 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 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.
Lately, Melania has been in the public eye more often as she is promoting her memoir titled “Melania.” In the book, she takes a strong stance in favor of abortion rights, despite her husband's role in overturning Roe v Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that had previously protected abortion rights nationwide.
“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to decide what she does with her own body?” Melania wrote. “A woman’s fundamental right to individual freedom and her own life gives her the power to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes.”
Trump criticizes Harris
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris declined to take part Al Smith Dinnerand decided to focus on her campaign Wisconsin. The decision represents a significant departure from the norm, as she becomes the first major party presidential candidate to miss the event in many years.
However, Harris sent a pre-recorded video in which comedian Molly Shannon played her famous “Superstar” character Mary Katherine Gallagher.
Trump criticized Harris for her absence during his speech.
During his dinner speech, Donald Trump said: “But I have to say, I was shocked to hear that Kamala skipped the Al Smith dinner,” Trump noted. He further added: “I was really hoping she would come because we can't get enough of hearing her beautiful laugh. She laughs like crazy. We would recognize it anywhere in this room.”
The Al Smith Dinner, a white-tie dinner, raises millions of dollars for Catholic Charities and traditionally offers candidates of both parties a chance to exchange light-hearted remarks, poke fun at themselves and show they get along – or at least be able to pretend to – for a night in the final stretch of the election.
It is often the last time the two nominees share a stage before Election Day.