Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:23 pm
Donald Trump crashed and burned at the Al Smith dinner – a political tradition where presidential candidates often make lighthearted jokes about each other – for telling terrible, tasteless jokes about Hillary Clinton.
The awkward silence in the room, now punctuated by booing. This is really uncomfortable. #AlSmithDinner
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) October 21, 2016
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Trump began his remarks making a few jokes that drew positive laughter from the audience, but his comedy act quickly deteriorated and people in the room became visibly uncomfortable, and even breaking out into boos.
One joke, in particular, drew a lot of backlash when Trump said that Hillary Clinton is “pretending not to hate Catholics” by attending the dinner, which is an event meant to raise money for Catholic charities.
Video:
Trump on Clinton: "Here she is tonight, in public, pretending not to hate Catholics." https://t.co/I5OwmWE4Gp https://t.co/8iBun1bnDH
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) October 21, 2016
This was an opportunity for both candidates to lighten the mood during a presidential campaign defined by negativity and vitriol, and Donald Trump made it even worse.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
