Jim Gaffigan Obliterates Kamala Harris and Democrats in Brutal Roast at Al Smith Dinner
SUMMARY
STORY
Nothing Was Off The Table
Comedian Jim Gaffigan took the stage at the Al Smith Dinner and delivered what could only be described as a political roast for the ages. Much like Ricky Gervais’ unforgettable Golden Globes moment, Gaffigan left no one untouched in a set of biting humor aimed at Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden, and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Gaffigan opened by pointing out the significance of the night, remarking, "You know, this event has been referred to as the Catholic Met Gala. Twenty-two percent of Americans identify as Catholic. Catholics will be a key demographic in every battleground state." This setup led smoothly into a joke that was one of the evening's sharpest zingers;
"I'm sorry, why is Vice President Harris not here?"
He didn't hold back on why Harris’ absence was ironic, continuing;
"I mean, consider this. This is a room full of Catholics and Jews in New York City. This is a layup for the Democratic nominee."
With that, Gaffigan had the audience hooked.
He playfully critiqued Harris' recent media appearances:
"In her defense, she did find time to appear on The View, Howard Stern, Colbert, and the long-time staple of campaigning, the Call Her Daddy podcast."
The jokes didn’t stop with Harris, as Gaffigan took aim at the entire DNC as well.
"President Biden couldn't be here tonight."
"The DNC made sure of that."
Perhaps one of the night's biggest laughs came when Gaffigan touched on the phenomenon of secret Trump voters:
"The media has begun discussing the phenomenon of secret Trump voters. I don't know if you've heard about this. People who publicly say they would never vote for Trump, but then when they go in the voting booth, they do."
Gaffigan let the setup linger before landing the knockout blow;
"It's a small group—they're called the Biden family."
The comedian then launched into a brutal critique of the Democrats' internal politics, hinting at the rumored replacement of Biden by Harris.
"The Democrats have been telling us Trump's re-election is a threat to democracy. In fact, they were so concerned about this threat, they staged a coup, ousted their democratically elected incumbent, and installed Kamala Harris."
Gaffigan ended his roast with a wink toward religious faith and political hope, addressing the Cardinal in the room:
"It really makes you consider the power of prayer, right Cardinal? Sometimes prayers take 3.5 years and a George Clooney op-ed."
The crowd, made up of political elites and prominent figures, erupted in laughter, but the underlying sting of Gaffigan’s jabs was impossible to miss. His performance was a masterclass in balancing humor with sharp political critique, leaving many to wonder if this could be the defining comedic moment of the political season.
