Comedian Jim Gaffigan makes a surprise attack on Harris for skipping the Catholic Met Gala.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan surprisingly criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for skipping Thursday's 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner, opting instead to broadcast a pre-recorded video message at the nonpartisan and light-hearted Catholic charity event should be shown.

“You know, this event was called the Catholic Met Gala. 22 percent of Americans identify as Catholic. Catholics will be an important demographic in any battleground state,” Gaffigan, the charity dinner host, said Thursday.

“I'm sorry. Why isn’t Vice President Harris here?” He continued as some in the audience cheered. “I mean, think about it. This is a room full of Catholics and Jews in New York City. This is a stopover for the Democratic candidate. I mean, in her defense, I mean, she found time to appear on The View, Howard Stern, Colbert and the long-running campaign podcast Call Her Daddy. Do you know what I'm thinking? I think she doesn’t like me.”

In another swipe at Harris and the Democratic Party, the comedian joked about the political “coup” against President Biden over the summer, when the 46th president dropped out of the presidential race amid growing calls for members of his own party to drop out to get out of concerns about his mental capacity.

TRUMP SPEAKS AT ANNUAL AL ​​SMITH DINNER, HARRIS BROADCAST RECORDED VID

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 17: New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and comedian Jim Gaffigan attend the Alfred E. Smith Foundation Annual Dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown on October 17, 2024 in New York City . Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump was the keynote speaker, with Gaffigan as master of ceremonies, at the 79th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner. The dinner, a white-tie charity event benefiting Catholic Charities, is known for politicians poking fun at each other. The foundation honors the late Alfred E. Smith, former governor of New York and America's first Catholic presidential candidate. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

“The Democrats told us Trump, Trump's re-election was a threat to democracy. In fact, they were so worried by this threat that they staged a coup. They overthrew their democratically elected incumbent and installed Kamala Harris,” Gaffigan said.

“In other words, all of her dreams have come true.”

HARRIS virtually attends Catholic charity dinner headlined by rival Trump

Harris is the first presidential candidate in 40 years not to be physically present outside of the 2020 virtual dinner during the pandemic Catholic charity event. Failed Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale in 1984 was the last candidate to skip the event.

Harris' snub of the historic Catholic The charity event angered New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the dinner's host, on his podcast this week.

“It's going to be unbalanced this year because, unfortunately, Kamala Harris isn't coming,” Dolan said on his podcast on Tuesday. “It's a shame because the nature of the evening is to bring people together. The nature of the evening is one of politeness, patriotism and humor. It's not a campaign speech. It’s not a campaign stop.”

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump raises his fist as he and his wife Melania Trump attend the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner at the Hilton Midtown on October 17, 2024 in New York. (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign for comment about sending a pre-recorded video message for the event, but did not receive a response. The campaign previously told Fox News that Harris skipped the event to focus on campaigning in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Thursday.

KAMALA HARRIS plans to skip the historic Al Smith dinner despite a long-standing tradition

“The vice president will be campaigning in a battleground state that day, and the campaign wants to maximize her time on the battlefield so close to the election. Her team also told organizers that she would be happy to attend their event.” “This would make her one of the first sitting presidents to attend,” the campaign said.

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner at the Hilton Midtown in New York on March 17, 2020 . October 2024. (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Harris recorded a video that aired during the dinner, in which she was joined by comedian and actress Molly Shannon. During Shannon's time as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, she played a Catholic student named Mary Katherine Gallgher, a role she also took on for the video.

TRUMP WELCOMES THE CATHOLIC GROUP'S MILLION-WILL ANTI-HARRIS CAMPAIGN THAT ATTACKS THE CHURCH'S BELIEVERS

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 17: Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris speaks via a recorded video message during the Alfred E. Smith Foundation's annual dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown on October 17, 2024 in New York City. Comedian Jim Gaffigan is the master of ceremonies at the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner. The dinner, a white-tie charity event benefiting Catholic Charities, is known for politicians poking fun at each other. The foundation honors the late Alfred E. Smith, former governor of New York and America's first Catholic presidential candidate. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

“So tell me something, I’m giving a speech. Do you have any thoughts on what I might say tonight?” Harris asked Shannon.

“Don’t lie. “You shall not bear false witness to your neighbor,” replied Shannon.

“Indeed, especially your neighbor’s election results,” Harris said, taking a swipe at Trump.

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The Al Smith Dinner was founded in 1946 and has raised millions of dollars for charities that support women and children. Since then, it has become a political and cultural hallmark of election season. The dinner is named after the first Catholic presidential candidate, Al Smith, who served as president 42nd Governor of New York. He ran for president in 1928 as a Democrat.

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