Conservatives and critics on social media criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for not attending the 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in person and instead sending a pre-recorded video message, which they deemed as “cringe-worthy.” The event is a bipartisan charity dinner that has traditionally been attended by nominees from both political parties. Harris’ decision to skip the event and send a video instead, featuring comedian Molly Shannon as her quirky “Saturday Night Live” character, Mary Katherine Gallagher, drew backlash from critics.
The video message included light-hearted banter between Harris and Shannon’s character, with Harris taking a dig at former President Donald Trump. Critics, including those from the Trump camp, lambasted the video on social media, with some describing it as awkward and out of touch. Comedian Jim Gaffigan, who served as the emcee of the dinner, also made jokes about the video, questioning the audience’s reaction to it.
Supporters of Harris, on the other hand, praised the video as a must-watch and commended her for skipping the dinner. Former President Trump used the opportunity to take jabs at Harris during his remarks at the event, criticizing her absence and making references to her past actions during the 2020 riots.
Despite the mixed reactions to the video, Harris concluded her message with a serious note, invoking the Gospel of Luke and calling for unity and understanding across divides. She emphasized the importance of faith, peace, and working together to build a better future for the country.
The controversy surrounding Harris’ decision to send a pre-recorded video to the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner highlights the ongoing political tensions and divisions in the country. The event, which has historically been a lighthearted affair where political figures poke fun at each other, became the center of a heated debate over Harris’ absence and the appropriateness of her video message.