Harris jabs at Trump with help from Molly Shannon in Al Smith dinner video

Vice President Harris on Thursday swiped at former President Trump with jokes about his election denialism and his criticism of Detroit during a pre-recorded video address to the Al Smith charity dinner in New York City.

Harris did not attend the dinner in person as she campaigned in Wisconsin. Instead, she addressed the event via a video that featured comedian Molly Shannon portraying her “Saturday Night Live” character Mary Katherine Gallagher, who is a Catholic school girl.

“So tell me something, I’m giving a speech. Do you have some thoughts about what I might say tonight?” Harris asks Shannon in the video.

Shannon’s advice included, “Don’t lie. Thou shall not bear false witness to thy neighbor.”

“Indeed, especially thy neighbor’s election results,” Harris said, taking a jab at Trump’s repeated false claims that the 2020 election was rigged.

“Don’t say anything negative about Catholics,” Shannon added.

“I would never do that no matter where I was. That would be like criticizing Detroit in Detroit,” Harris responded, taking another swing at Trump, this time over recent comments he made in Detroit disparaging the city.

“Does it bother you that Trump guy insults you all the time?” Shannon asked.

“You should never let anyone tell you who you are, you tell them who you are,” Harris replied.

Shannon exited the video and Harris delivered a direct address to the dinner’s attendees.

“The Al Smith dinner provides a rare opportunity to set aside partisanship and come together to do some good by supporting the tremendous charitable work of the Catholic church,” Harris said. 

“In the spirit of tonight’s dinner, let us recommit to reaching across divides, to seek understanding and common ground,” she added. “And in honor of the great Al Smith, let us fight to build a better future with faith in God, our country and in each other.”

Thursday night's event is the 79th annual dinner of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation and is hosted by New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Trump is attending in person and has criticized Harris for skipping the dinner.

Presidential candidates typically have delivered remarks every four years at the dinner and traded good-natured jokes, though Trump upended the event in 2016 by attacking Hillary Clinton. Trump and President Biden spoke virtually in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thursday night’s dinner is being emceed by comedian Jim Gaffigan, who has portrayed Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz on “Saturday Night Live” in recent weeks.