Trump and Harris argue at a Catholic charity event in New York, although Harris was not present

A presidential election tradition that dates back to 1960 got a few laughs in New York City on Thursday night, but for the first time in 40 years, only one candidate will be on the agenda.

Former President Donald Trump spoke at the New York Archdiocese's Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation annual dinner at the New York Hilton, where his wife Melania Trump was in attendance. Vice President Kamala Harris announced last month that she would not be able to attend due to a conflicting campaign event, but appeared in a video at the dinner.

“She will be campaigning in a battleground state that day, and the campaign wants to maximize her time on the battlefield so close to the election,” a campaign official told ABC News on Sept. 23.

The vice president campaigned in Wisconsin on Thursday.

Trump alternated between jokes about Harris and some of the other attendees and the usual quips he uses on the campaign trail, but acknowledged the event's tradition of self-deprecating jokes and said one was coming before admitting, “Ah, I didn't get anything.” .” “

Harris appeared in her video with “Saturday Night Live” character Mary Katherine Gallagher, played by Molly Shannon as an awkward Catholic schoolgirl who dreams of becoming a superstar.

Harris asked Mary Katherine for advice on how to approach the Catholic congregation.

“Is there anything you think I perhaps shouldn’t bring up tonight?”

“Um, well, don't lie,” Mary Katherine replied.

“You shall not bear false witness to your neighbor,” Harris said.

“Indeed, especially your neighbor’s election results,” Mary Katherine said.

Trump reprimanded Harris for not showing up in a Truth Social post before the event.

“They didn't give me the option of a video message and I wouldn't have done it either. This is very disrespectful to everyone involved,” he said, adding that Harris is likely to lose the Catholic vote on this.

After Harris' video played, Trump repeated that statement.

“It is a long-standing tradition that both Democratic and Republican candidates for President of the United States attend this dinner. Always. It's a rule. Otherwise bad things will happen to you from up there,” he said. “You can’t do what I just saw on that screen. But my opponent feels like she doesn't have to be here, which is deeply disrespectful to the event and especially to our great Catholic community. Very disrespectful.”

Later, when Trump mentioned the charity behind the dinner, he took another attack on Harris, saying, “I guess you should have told her the funds were for rescuing the looters and rioters in Minneapolis and she would be guaranteed.” been here.”

Since 1960, the black-tie event has hosted both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, allowing 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 nominated for the presidential nomination of a major party.

The last time a presidential candidate was unable to attend the dinner was in 1984, when Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale dropped out.

The event was hosted by comedian Jim Gaffigan, who currently plays Gov. Tim Walz on “Saturday Night Live.”

Trump confirmed his attendance in a Truth Social post on September 23, not long after Harris' campaign announced she would not be appearing.

“It's sad but not surprising that Kamala chose not to attend,” he said in the post.

In the same post, Trump accused Harris of being anti-Catholic and repeated previous claims without evidence that the government was persecuting Catholics. President Joe Biden is the second Catholic president in American history and attends mass weekly.

In the past, presidential candidates have teased each other and appeared to be in good spirits throughout the night. However, things were different in 2016, when both presidential candidates attended the event in person for the last time.

Trump was booed during his 2016 Al Smith Dinner speech for repeatedly using Sec. had attacked. by State Hillary Clinton.

During Clinton's remarks, the Democratic nominee made a few self-deprecating jokes about her stamina and paid speeches before turning her attention to Trump, where she berated him about everything from his temper to his ties to Russia.

Trump didn't laugh or seem amused by his opponent's jokes.

ABC News' Soo Rin Kim, Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Will McDuffie contributed to this report.