French fries, beers, and no-shows: What Trump knows that Harris doesn't



In politics, the way leaders engage with the public often reflects their true character. Some roll up their sleeves and immerse themselves in everyday activities, while others maintain a distance, suggesting that they have more important concerns.

Last week highlighted three distinct interactions: Donald Trump served McDonald's in Pennsylvania, JD Vance poured beers at a Wisconsin bar, and Kamala Harris missed the high-profile Al Smith charity dinner in New York. These instances collectively illustrate the varied ways politicians connect with or avoid the public.

In politics — as in life — showing up matters. Harris didn’t. And that speaks louder than any speech she might have given.

Trump working the fryer at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania might seem like a publicity stunt to some. However, dismissing it as merely that overlooks its significance. For many of Trump’s supporters, his actions were not just for show — they symbolized his ongoing connection with them. McDonald’s represents more than just fast food; it is a staple of everyday American life. When Trump stood at the drive-thru window, handing over customers’ orders, he sent a clear message: I see you. I’m with you.

The same can be said for Vance, Trump’s running mate, who recently jumped behind the bar at a Wisconsin pub to pour drinks for patrons. On the surface, it was a small gesture. But for a U.S. senator who built his political identity on his working-class roots and who wrote the best-selling “Hillbilly Elegy” about his own rise from poverty, serving beers isn’t just an act. It’s a reminder that leadership, at its core, is about service. It tells voters, I’m not above this. I’m one of you.

Critics might dismiss these as mere gimmicks. True, appearances play a role in politics, but these gestures carry significance. At a time when many Americans feel neglected by elites, simple acts of connection make an impact. They show that politics involves more than speeches and policies — it’s about being present where it counts for ordinary people.

And that brings us to Kamala Harris. Her absence from last week’s Al Smith Dinner spoke volumes. The Al Smith event is not just any gathering; it is a bipartisan charity gala where politicians can lighten up and raise money for a good cause. It’s a rare occasion for unity in politics. By skipping this event, Harris, whether intentionally or not, suggested there is little value in bipartisan engagement, even for charity.

It’s a small decision, but it reflects a larger trend. More and more, some politicians seem unwilling to step outside their ideological comfort zones, even for symbolic moments of unity.

Leadership isn’t just about pushing an agenda — it’s also about being visible, being approachable, and showing up. That’s what makes Trump's and Vance’s actions so striking. Say what you want about them, but at least they showed up.

Trump, a former billionaire and TV star, served fries at a McDonald’s, and Vance, a best-selling author and U.S. senator, poured beers at a Wisconsin tavern, signaling to voters overlooked by Washington elites that they are part of their world, not above it.

Kamala Harris’ absence from the Al Smith Dinner was more than a skipped event; it represented a missed opportunity. These moments are not solely about charity; they symbolize national unity, demonstrating that even in disagreement, we stand together. By not participating, politicians like Harris risk appearing aloof or dismissive, a perilous stance in today’s polarized America.

The lesson is clear: In politics, presence counts. From Donald Trump serving burgers and fries to JD Vance pouring pints, these acts reveal how politicians perceive their connection with the public. Politicians who actively engage, no matter how minor the gesture, invariably gain an advantage over those who opt out.

You can call Trump’s and Vance’s moves stunts if you want. But the truth is, they put themselves out there. They made the effort. And in politics — as in life — showing up matters.

Harris didn’t show up. And that speaks louder than any speech she could have given.

Trump Has Audience Rolling With Laughter At Charity Dinner Kamala Refused To Attend

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-18-at-10.24.37 AM-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-18-at-10.24.37%5Cu202fAM-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]Vice President Kamala Harris broke tradition by skipping a Catholic charity dinner, where former President Donald Trump won applause.

Trump delivers a master class in comedy — and demolishes Harris



President Donald Trump helped raise money for New York City's most vulnerable women and children Thursday evening by bashing Kamala Harris, suggesting that some of her remaining male supporters are cuckolds and insinuating that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) was a direct beneficiary of the tampons he put in boys' restrooms.

Trump's humorous critique of his opponent and the Democratic Party — which had the crowd in stitches and subsequently prompted many a meltdown in the liberal media and among Harris boosters — was thematically reinforced at the 79th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner by an unlikely source: Jim Gaffigan, a left-leaning comedian who called Trump a "fascist" in 2020.

Although Gaffigan made sure to poke fun at Trump, he risked the ire of his leftist peers by similarly knocking Harris — questioning her decision to blow off the event and suggesting that she became the Democratic candidate by undemocratic means.

"The Democrats have been telling us Trump's re-election is a threat to democracy," said Gaffigan. "In fact, they were so concerned of this threat that they staged a coup, ousted their democratically elected incumbent, and installed Kamala Harris."

Early in his speech, Trump emphasized his appreciation for the dinner, which Harris refused to attend — an event hosted by the Archdiocese of New York that he frequented with his late father, raising money for kids with special needs, foster children, low-income single mothers, and other vulnerable persons in the city.

After noting that he was happy to participate in a New York event that he wasn't summoned to by subpoena, Trump unleashed on Harris, noting that her absence, which she tried to remedy with a four-minute video submission featuring former "Saturday Night Live" star Molly Shannon, was "weird" and "deeply disrespectful" — an assertion that was audibly well received by the audience, who booed her in absentia.

Trump joked that Harris was likely hunting with Walz, referring to the governor's embarrassing hunting-themed photo op last weekend, or alternatively "receiving communion from Gretchen Whitmer," the Michigan governor who recently shared a video apparently mocking Catholics and the Eucharist.

Echoing a previous statement from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the organizer of the dinner, Trump pointed out that the last major party candidate not to attend the event was Democratic candidate Walter F. Mondale, who lost 49 out of 50 states, securing only 13 electoral votes in the 1984 election against Ronald Reagan.

Earlier in the evening, Gaffigan said, "This event has been referred to as the Catholic Met Gala. 22% of Americans identify as Catholic. Catholics will be a key demographic in every battleground state. I'm sorry, why is Vice President Harris not here?"

'Governor Walz isn't here himself, but don't worry, he'll say that he was.'

Trump, who sardonically suggested that Harris' laugh was "beautiful" and recommended keeping her husband, Doug Emhoff, away from the nannies, suggested that if the organizers of the event really wanted the vice president to accept their invitation, they should have "told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis and she would have been here, guaranteed."

Prior to roasting some of Harris' allies, Trump suggested that the country needs new leadership, noting:

We have someone in the White House who can barely talk, barely put together two coherent sentences, who seems to have mental faculties of a child. It's sad. This is a person who has nothing going, no intelligence whatsoever — but enough about Kamala Harris.

Trump subsequently singled out Ross Morales Rocketto's Democratic booster group White Dudes for Harris, saying, "I'm not worried about them at all because their wives and their wives' lovers are all voting for me. Every one of those people are voting for me."

After suggesting White Dudes for Harris were cuckolds, Trump roasted Harris' running mate, saying, "Unfortunately Governor Walz isn't here himself, but don't worry, he'll say that he was."

"I used to say that Democrats were crazy for saying that men have periods," continued Trump. "But then I met Tim Walz."

Although he acknowledged that speakers at the event customarily make some self-deprecating jokes, Trump noted there was no point taking shots at himself "when other people have been shooting at me."

Trump did, however, adopt a serious tone toward the end of his speech, noting that in the wake of two known assassination attempts, he has "a fresh appreciation for how blessed we are by God's providence and His divine mercy," adding that with God's help, "there is nothing that cannot be achieved."

When wrapping up his remarks, Trump noted that New York City needed the room for a "large group of illegal aliens coming in from Texas."

While Trump had the crowd laughing, including longtime critics Gaffigan and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the Harris campaign tried spinning his speech as a failure.

Ammar Moussa, the Harris campaign's rapid response director, claimed in a joyless statement that Trump "stumbled over his words and lashed out when the crowd wouldn't laugh with him. The rare moments he was off script, he went on long, incomprehensible rambles, reminding Americans how unstable he's become. And of course he made it all about himself."

In her brief Al Smith dinner video submission, Harris went on the defense, suggesting that she would never say anything negative about Catholics despite previously suggesting the Knights of Columbus' Catholic faith disqualified them from serving as judges and introducing legislation aimed at forcing Catholic organizations to engage in activities that violate their religious beliefs.

After citing a verse from the Gospel of Luke, Harris closed her video by recommitting "to reaching across divides, to seek understanding and common ground."

Gaffigan responded to Harris' video saying, "As I watch that, I couldn't help but think of — now I know how my kids felt when I FaceTime into a piano recital they were at."

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Harris Campaign’s Last-Ditch Effort To Salvage Damning Political Misstep Will Backfire Even Worse

To send in a pre-recorded video to the Al Smith dinner is arguably worse than not attending

Cardinal Dolan jokes about what Harris might share in common with last person to blow off the Al Smith dinner



Vice President Kamala Harris has decided to blow off the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner hosted by the Archdiocese of New York. She will be the first Democratic nominee in 40 years not to attend the annual event, which has raised millions of dollars to help the city's most vulnerable women and children — including kids with special needs, foster children, and low-income single mothers.

President Donald Trump indicated he will not similarly leave the archdiocese and related charities in the lurch, noting Harris' decision was "sad, but not surprising."

While some critics have suggested Harris' decision is at the very least a strategic blunder and possibly also further confirmation of her enmity toward Catholics, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the organizer of the dinner, made light of Harris' declination, intimating it may be a matter of history rhyming.

"We're disappointed," Cardinal Dolan said Monday at a press briefing following an event at Elizabeth Seton Children's Center in Yonkers, a medical center for disabled kids the dinner helps fund. "We were looking forward to giving the vice president an enthusiastic welcome."

'I don't know what she has against our Catholic friends, but it must be a lot.'

"You know, she speaks very much about the high ideals and how it's good to get away from division, and come together in unity, and all. That's what the Al Smith Dinner is all about," continued the cardinal. "We haven't given up yet. We're not used to this. We don't know how to handle it."

The archdiocese's director of communications, Joseph Zwilling, confirmed to Crux that Harris had declined to attend the dinner.

Cardinal Dolan intimated that the election may ultimately prove this decision to be common to losers.

"This hasn't happened in 40 years — since Walter Mondale turned down the invitation. And remember: He lost 49 out of 50 states," said Cardinal Dolan.

Ronald Reagan steamrolled Democratic candidate Walter F. Mondale in the 1984 election. Mondale only managed to secure 13 electoral votes from his home state of Minnesota and the District of Columbia. Reagan kept the White House with 525 electoral votes and nearly 17 million more votes.

As members of the press and others stifled laughter, Dolan noted that there is still a chance Harris will change her mind, particularly with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul leaning on her to attend.

Brian Browne, the associate vice president of university communications and public affairs at St. John's University, suggested to Crux that Harris' decision didn't make sense, especially since there would be no unscripted moments, which her campaign is apparently afraid of.

"Given she's the Democratic candidate, she would have access to the best joke writers on the east coast and the west coast who would love the opportunity to write a script. It's a very scripted event," said Browne. "I know she seems to be very dependent on a teleprompter, but it's a teleprompter event. Yes, you might get some groans if your jokes don't land, but you're not going to get booed off the stage or heckled. It's always this kind of coming together type of moment."

Browne added, "It's a missed opportunity to demonstrate a human side and come together for a charitable cause, and you know, if I was advising her, I would tell her to reconsider this."

'Harris's animus toward Catholicism is not limited to inquisition of Catholic nominees for federal courts.'

Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social, "It will be an honor to attend the SOLD OUT 79th ANNUAL AL SMITH DINNER on October 17th in New York. It will be great to see so many wonderful people there, including Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan. We know the Spirit of Al Smith, the first Catholic Nominee of a Major Party, and John F. Kennedy, the FIRST Catholic President, will be in the room with us that night."

Trump added, "It's sad, but not surprising, that Kamala has decided not to attend. I don't know what she has against our Catholic friends, but it must be a lot, because she certainly hasn't been very nice to them, in fact, Catholics are literally being persecuted by this Administration. Any Catholic that votes for Comrade Kamala Harris should have their head examined."

This is not the first time Trump has highlighted Harris' ostensible antipathy to Catholics.

Trump told a crowd at the Turning Point Believers' Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, in July that "radical left ideology Kamala supports is really militantly hostile towards Americans of faith" and that Harris personally has an issue with Catholics.

Harris "viciously attacked highly qualified judicial nominees simply because they were members of the Knights of Columbus, suggesting that their Catholic faith disqualified them from serving on the federal bench," said Trump.

Kenneth Craycraft, the James J. Gardner Chair of Moral Theology at Mount St. Mary's Seminary and School of Theology, underscored in First Things that "Harris's animus toward Catholicism is not limited to inquisition of Catholic nominees for federal courts, but also extends to harassment of public organizations whose missions are consistent with Catholic moral theology."

Craycraft noted that Harris introduced legislation aimed at forcing "religious individuals and organizations to engage in activities that directly violate their firmly held religious beliefs" and cosponsored the "Equality Act," which would "force Catholic hospitals, for example, to perform gender transition surgeries, open women's restrooms to men, and force girls and women to compete against boys and men in athletic competitions."

A similar animus has thrived at the Biden-Harris FBI in recent years.

The House Judiciary Committee and its Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government revealed late last year that the FBI under the current administration has "abused its counterterrorism tools to target Catholic Americans as potential domestic terrorists."

According to CNN, Harris intends to campaign in an unspecified battleground state on October 17.

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