These events gave not only the candidates a chance to be with each other in a very social setting; it also allows the candidates the opportunity to meet the other candidate’s team – good team. I know Hillary met my campaign manager, and I got a chance to meet the people who are working so hard to get her elected. There they are – the heads of NBC, CNN, CBS, ABC. There is the New York Times right over there, and the Washington Post. They are working overtime. True, true. Oh, this one is going to get me in trouble. Not with Hillary. You know, the President told me to stop whining, but I really have to say, the media is even more biased this year than ever before – ever. You want the proof? Michelle Obama gives a speech and everyone loves it. It’s fantastic. They think she is absolutely great. My wife, Melania, gives the exact same speech and people get on her case. And I don’t get it. I don’t know why. And it was not her fault. Stand up, Melania. Come on. She took a lot of abuse. Oh, I’m in trouble when I go home tonight. She did not know about that one. Am I okay? Is that okay? Cardinal, please speak to her.
And Hillary was very gracious. She said if somehow she gets elected, she wants me to be, without question, either her ambassador to Iraq or to Afghanistan. It’s my choice.
And even tonight, with all of the heated back and forth between my opponent and me at the debate last night, we have proven that we can actually be civil to each other. In fact, just before taking the dais, Hillary accidentally bumped into me, and she very civilly said, “Pardon me.” And I very politely replied, “Let me talk to you about that after I get into office.”
True. Not for a long period of time, but I was, for about three weeks. What’s great about the Al Smith dinner is that even in the rough-and-tumble world of a really hard-fought campaign – in fact, I don’t know if you know, Hillary, but last night they said that was the most vicious debate in the history of politics, presidential debate – the most vicious.
I wasn’t really sure if Hillary was going to be here tonight, because, I guess, you didn’t send her an invitation by email. Or maybe you did, and she just found out about it through the wonder of WikiLeaks. We have learned so much from WikiLeaks. For example, Hillary Clinton believes that it is vital to deceive the people by having one public policy – and a totally different policy in private. That’s okay. I don’t know who they are angry at. Hillary, you or I. For example, here she is tonight, in public, pretending not to hate Catholics.
It’s great to be here with a thousand wonderful people, or as I call it, a small, intimate dinner with some friends. Or as Hillary calls it, her largest crowd of the season. Ahh, this stuff. This is corny stuff.
Mayor de Blasio, wherever you are. Where is Mayor de Blasio? See, in the old days, I would have known him very well, but I haven’t been doing so much of the real estate anymore. And I want to thank Al and Nan Smith – just a fantastic job you do with the dinner. And congratulations on a record – over $6 million, right? Is that a record?
Now, I am told Hillary went to confession before tonight’s event, but the priest was having a hard time when he asked her about her sins, and she said she couldn’t remember 39 times. Oh, Man!
I do recognize that I come into this event with a little bit of an advantage. I know that so many of you in the archdiocese already have a place in your heart for a guy who started out as a carpenter working for his father. I was a carpenter working for my father.
Donald Trump’s Speech at the 71st Al Smith Dinner
I’d like to address an important religious matter: the issue of going to confession. Or, as Hillary calls it, the Fourth of July weekend with FBI Director Comey.
Now, some of you haven’t noticed, Hillary is not laughing as much as the rest of us. That’s because she knows the jokes. And all of the jokes were given to her in advance of the dinner by Donna Brazile – which is – everyone knows, of course, Hillary’s belief that it takes a village, which only makes sense, after all, in places like Haiti, where she’s taken a number of them.
Thank you, Al. Wow, that was good. Mmm. This is a helluva dinner. I want to thank your eminence. It’s really great with you again. Beloved Governor Cuomo, our great senators. Hi, Chuck. He used to love me when I was a Democrat, you know.
We are having some fun here tonight, and that’s good. On a personal note, what an amazing honor it is to be with all of you. I want to congratulate Hillary on getting the nomination, and we’re in the fighting over the next 19 days, somebody is going to be chosen. We will see what happens. But I have great memories of coming to this dinner with my father over the years when I was a young man. Great experience for me. This was always a special experience for him and me to be together. One thing we can all agree on is the need to support the great work that comes out of the dinner. Millions of dollars have been raised to support disadvantaged children. And I applaud the many people who have worked to make this wonderful event a critical lifeline for children in need.
You know, last night, I called Hillary a “nasty woman”. But this stuff is all relative. After listening to Hillary rattle on and on and on, I don’t think so badly of Rosie O’Donnell anymore. In fact, I am actually starting to like Rosie a lot.