A presidential election tradition dating back to 1960 should bring laughter Thursday evening in New York, but for the first time in 40 years, only one candidate will be on the ballot.
Former President Donald Trump will attend the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation of the Archdiocese of New York dinner at the New York Hilton with his wife Melania. Vice President Kamala Harris announced last month that she would not be able to attend due to a conflicting campaign event.
Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump with his wife Melania Trump and Archbishop of New York Timothy M. Dolan (left) attend the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner at the Hilton Midtown in New York, October 17, 2024.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
“She’s going to be campaigning that day in a battleground state, and the campaign wants to maximize her time in the battlegrounds as the election approaches,” a campaign official told ABC News on September 23.
The vice president attended several campaign events in Wisconsin on Thursday, but there are reports she could still make her mark at the New York gala.
Trump claimed in a Truth Social article Thursday evening that Harris was going to release a video message at the event and chastised her for the alleged decision.
“They didn’t give me the opportunity to send a video message and I wouldn’t have done it either. It’s very disrespectful to everyone involved,” he said, adding that Harris should losing the Catholic vote because of this.
The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to ABC News’ requests for comment regarding a possible appearance at the video dinner.
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in La Crosse, Wisconsin, October 17, 2024.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Since 1960, the black-tie event has hosted Democratic and Republican presidential candidates and allowed them to “share self-deprecating humor” and raise money for archdiocesan charities.
It is named in honor of Alfred E. Smith, the former governor of New York who was the first Catholic to be named to a major party’s presidential ticket.
The last time a presidential candidate was unable to attend the dinner was in 1984, when Democratic candidate Walter Mondale withdrew.
This year’s event will be hosted by comedian Jim Gaffigan, who currently stars as Gov. Tim Walz on “Saturday Night Live.”
Before the gala, Trump visited a hair salon in the Bronx.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan sits between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation’s annual dinner at the Waldorf Astoria on October 20, 2016, in New York.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Trump confirmed her attendance in a Truth Social article on September 23, shortly after Harris’ campaign announced she would not be running.
“It’s sad, but not surprising, that Kamala decided not to attend,” he said in his message.
In the same article, Trump accused Harris of being anti-Catholic and repeated her past claims, without evidence, that the administration was persecuting Catholics. President Joe Biden is the second Catholic president in American history and attends Mass every week.
Cardinal Francis Spellman (center) is flanked by the two presidential candidates, Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon, as they attend the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner at the Waldorf Hotel Astoria, October 19, 1960.
Archives Bettmann/Getty Images
In the past, presidential candidates have roasted each other and seemed in good spirits all night. However, things were different in 2016, the last time both presidential candidates attended the event in person.
Trump was booed during his speech at the Al Smith dinner in 2016 for repeatedly attacking the Sec. of State Hilary Clinton.
During Clinton’s remarks, the Democratic nominee made a few self-deprecating jokes about his stamina and paid speeches, before turning her attention to Trump, where she criticized him on everything from his temperament to his ties to Russia .
Trump did not laugh or appear amused by his opponent’s jokes.
ABC News’ Soo Rin Kim, Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Will McDuffie contributed to this report.
