Comedian Jim Gaffigan took center stage at this year’s Al Smith charity dinner, an event known for its light-hearted roasting of political figures, and he received a mixed response from Melania Trump.
The dinner, held in New York City, benefits Catholic charities and traditionally features politicians and public figures engaging in some playful ribbing.
As reported by Newsweek, the dinner is named after former New York Governor Alfred E. Smith, who became the first Catholic nominated for president by a major U.S. political party when he ran as the Democratic nominee in the 1928 presidential election.
Gaffigan, known for his clean and observational humor, opened his set with the words: “Good evening, rich people,” which drew smiles from former president Donald Trump and his wife, both noted guests at the event.
Donald and Melania Trump at the annual Alfred E. Smith Foundation Dinner on October 17, 2024, in New York City. The dinner is known for political figures poking fun at one another.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
The comedian then quipped: “I feel like I’m at a casting call for Daddy Warbucks and I’m not gonna get the job.”
While the crowd erupted in laughter, cameras caught Melania maintaining a largely deadpan expression as she glanced over at the audience.
“I want you to know that I’m going to be fair and balanced tonight,” Gaffigan continued. “And I’m going to make jokes about both Donald Trump and J.D. Vance.”
The joke landed well with the audience, but Melania remained visibly unmoved, her reaction – or lack thereof – showed that she was seemingly untouched by the banter.
Trump occasionally chuckled at the remarks, but Melania remained fairly cool and composed throughout most of the set and throughout the evening.
She occasionally showed a tight-lipped smiling response to the jokes and broke into a wider smile when talking to others next to her.
As reported by Newsweek, referring to Trump’s false accusations of Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating family pets, Gaffigan said:
“During the first and only debate, President Trump talked about migrants taking cats and eating them,” Gaffigan said. “You know, if you’re keeping track at home, this is the second time grabbing a kitty has been part of a campaign issue.”
While Trump smiled throughout Gaffigan’s joke, Melania appeared stone-faced at the time the punchline was delivered, and the audience’s reaction was a mixture of groans, laughter and silence.
The former first lady’s largely unamused expression and cool, calm demeanor during the performance and throughout the evening were in line with her well-known reputation for remaining reserved in public settings.
Whether Melania was genuinely unamused by many of the jokes, she simply didn’t get them, or her subtle response was adhering to her characteristically composed public persona remains unclear. She is often noted for her classic stoicism and appearing to take things in her stride.
Newsweek contacted Melania Trump via email outside of normal working hours for comment on Friday.
