No one was safe during Hillary Clinton's remarks at the Al Smith Dinner on Thursday night — she took shots at Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Rudy Giuliani, and even herself.
Clinton spoke after Trump, who was ultimately booed after making a joke about Clinton hating Catholics. She first made a self-deprecating jab, saying she took a break from her "rigorous nap schedule" to be there, adding, "it's a treat for all of you to be here because usually I charge a lot for speeches like this." She quickly changed gears and started going after Trump, saying she was amazed he gave up the microphone in a "peaceful transition of power," adding, "after listening to your speech, I will also enjoy listening to Mike Pence deny that you ever gave it." Clinton went on to announce that former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg was in the audience, quipping, "It's a shame he's not speaking tonight, I'm curious to hear what a billionaire has to say," and brought up the Statue of Liberty, saying that when Trump looks at her, "he sees a 4, maybe a 5 if she loses the torch and tablet and changes her hair."
While Trump laughed throughout her bit, one person remained stone-faced: Rudy "Chuckles" Giuliani. After dissing the Trump surrogate while saying the names of honorable guests in attendance, Clinton mentioned that "Rudy actually got his start as a prosecutor, going after wealthy New Yorkers who avoided paying taxes. But as the saying goes, 'If you can't beat 'em, go on Fox News and call 'em a genius.'" The smoke could almost be seen coming out of his ears. He wasn't the only Republican she slammed — before ending her speech with a call for tolerance, she got in one more dig: "Tonight, let's embrace the spirit of the evening. Let's come together, remember what unites us, and just rip on Ted Cruz." Watch the video below. Catherine Garcia
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 capitulating cartoons about the Democrat's shutdown surrenderCartoons Artists take on Democrat's folding, flag-waving, and more
-
How are these Epstein files so damaging to Trump?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As Republicans and Democrats release dueling tranches of Epstein-related documents, the White House finds itself caught in a mess partially of its own making
-
Margaret Atwood’s memoir, intergenerational trauma and the fight to make spousal rape a crime: Welcome to November booksThe Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts’ by Margaret Atwood, ‘Cursed Daughters’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite and 'Without Consent' by Sarah Weinman
-
Trump DOJ sues to block California redistrictingSpeed Read California’s new congressional map was drawn by Democrats to flip Republican-held House seats
-
GOP retreats from shutdown deal payout provisionSpeed Read Senators are distancing themselves from a controversial provision in the new government funding package
-
Catholic bishops rebuke Trump on immigrationSpeed Read ‘We feel compelled’ to ‘raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity,’ the bishops said
-
House releases Epstein emails referencing TrumpSpeed Read The emails suggest Trump knew more about Epstein’s sex trafficking of underage women than he has claimed
-
Newsom slams Trump’s climate denial at COP30speed read Trump, who has called climate change a ‘hoax,’ declined to send any officials to this week’s summit
-
UK, Colombia halt intel to US over boat attacksSpeed Read Both countries have suspended intelligence sharing with the US over the bombing of civilian boats suspected of drug smuggling
-
Trump pardons 2020 fake electors, other GOP alliesSpeed Read The president pardoned Rudy Giuliani and more who tried to overturn his 2020 election loss
-
Supreme Court to decide on mail-in ballot limitsSpeed Read The court will determine whether states can count mail-in ballots received after Election Day
