Is Jim Gaffigan a Trump supporter? Everything the comedian has said about the ex-president in the past before his Al Smith dinner speech
Comedian Jim Gaffigan roasted Donald Trump and Kamala Harris at the Al Smith charity dinner on Thursday, October 17. The Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, commonly known as the Al Smith Dinner, is an annual dinner organized in New York City to raise funds for Catholic charities supporting underprivileged children in the Archdiocese of New York.
Over the years, the charity has developed into a political ritual and is generally the last time opposition candidates meet each other in public before the election. As tradition dictates, both candidates are generally roasted at this dinner party by the speaker.
Jim Gaffigan roasted former President Donald Trump for his history of discriminating against black tenants and also brought up Trump's infamous Access Hollywood tape scandal in the presence of the former First Lady Melania Trump.
Jim Gaffigan is not a Donald Trump supporter based on what he has said about him in the past. The comedian has criticized the Republican supremo several times, calling him a fascist and highlighting his alleged disregard for the law.
Gaffigan also took shots at Kamala Harris, roasting her for not being able to make it at the charity dinner.
"Trump is a liar and a criminal" - When Jim Gaffigan lambasted Donald Trump in a series of tweets
Jim Gaffigan once lambasted Donald Trump during the former President's final speech at the Republican National Convention in 2020.
“Look Trumpers I get it. As a kid I was a cubs fan and I know you stick by your team no matter what but he’s a traitor and a con man who doesn’t care about you,” Jim Gaffigan tweeted. “Deep down you know it. I’m sure you enjoy p*ssing people off but you know Trump is a liar and a criminal.”
He went on to slam the 78-year-old and his family in a series of tweets that went viral on X.
"By the way you can't be against Cancel Culture and tell people to stay out of politics. You know that time you did a job and didn't get paid? That's trump and you know it," wrote the comedian.
Gaffigan called Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner a 'd*uche bag' and argued that Ivanka Trump didn't represent working-class America.
"I know you hate snobs and elites I get it but look at Ivana and that douche bag Jerod. Think they are on your side? Do you think they've ever done a real days work in their lives. Wake up," opined Jim Gaffigan.
Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz wasn't spared either as the comedian slammed him for questioning Joe Biden's belief in his religion during the convention.
“F*ck Lou Holtz. Biden is Catholic in name only? Compared to who?” Gaffigan wrote. “How many abortions did Trump pay for? How may women has he r*ped? How many times did pull the sh*t he did in Ukraine. Wake up. He’s a crook and a con man,” slammed Gaffigan.
"Remember everything Trump accuses the Democrats of he's guilt of. Dont let the socialist name calling distract you from the fact he is a fascist who has no belief in law," he continued.
The comedian also criticized Donald Trump for the way he allegedly handled the Coronavirus pandemic. According to the comedian, the former President was "incompetent during the crisis."
"Trump budding up with dictators is RADICAL. Trump having interfering with the justice department is RADICAL. Trump pandering to the police and army (I gave 3 raises) is RADICAL," he continued.
Jim Gaffigan ended his rant with three bullet points he wanted his followers to remember:
“If you want to sound crazy please tell me about THE DEEP STATE. To sound stupid please be against CANCEL CULTURE but then accuse anyone with an opinion of virtue signaling. Trump derangement syndrome is meant to distract from the con of Don.”
In 2022, the comedian opened up about his X rant in an interview with The Daily Beast. He explained that the "amount of lying" that allegedly came from the Trump family baffled him. Thereafter, he decided to 'treat' himself with a series of tweets.
"I was just like, I’m going to come out and say exactly what I think of him. I didn’t think it would influence anyone necessarily, but I also wasn’t sure if Biden was going to win, and I do believe that if Trump had won it would have been really bad, and I wanted my kids who I was home with to know that I had stated my case," added Jim Gaffigan.
What did Jim Gaffigan say about Donald Trump in his Al Smith dinner speech?
During his Al Smith dinner speech, Jim Gaffigan joked about the infamous Access Hollywood tape incident that erupted in 2016 - weeks before Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton to become President. The Washington Post published a 2005 recording of a Donald Trump interview where he claimed that he could "grab" women by their g*nitals because he was famous.
At the Al Smith dinner, Jim Gaffigan brought up the debacle with Donald and Melania Trump sitting just a few feet away.
Alluding to Trump's September 10 quote where he accused Haitian immigrants of killing and eating pet cats in Ohio, the comedian said:
"During the first and only debate, President Trump talked about migrants taking cats and eating them. 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 the former President was smiling throughout the banter, Melania Trump appeared stone-faced when the punchline was delivered.