NEW: Trump slams Kamala for declining Al Smith charity dinner invite: she ‘doesn’t care about these good works’

After Vice President Kamala Harris declined her invitation to go to the annual Al Smith charity dinner event in New York, Donald Trump, who has accepted the invite, slammed the Democratic presidential nominee for opting to hit the campaign trail instead.

Trump posted on Truth Social, "It will be an honor to attend the SOLD OUT 79th ANNUAL AL SMITH DINNER on October 17th in New York. It will be great to see so many wonderful people there, including Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan. We know the Spirit of Al Smith, the first Catholic Nominee of a Major Party, and John F. Kennedy, the FIRST Catholic President, will be in the room with us that night."

"It's sad, but not surprising, that Kamala has decided not to attend. I don't know what she has against our Catholic friends, but it must be a lot, because she certainly hasn't been very nice to them, in fact, Catholics are literally being persecuted by this Administration," Trump commented in the post. He later added, "Regardless, I will see everyone on October 17th, and we will have a GREAT night for Catholic Charities. It's sad that Kamala doesn't care about these good works, but with her History of anti-Catholic actions, she would have a hard time anyway!"

The last time a presidential candidate declined an invite to the dinner was in 1984. The annual charity dinner has been held for the last 79 years, and it is customary for presidential candidates to attend and trade light jabs at each other in the name of charity. Harris has instead opted to be out on the campaign trail in battleground states. The money raised by the event is used to help those in need around New York City. This year it is taking place at the New York Hilton Midtown.

An Archdiocese’s of New York spokesperson commented in response to the news that Harris would not be coming to the event, “We are disappointed that she will not be with us, as this is an evening of unity and putting aside political differences in support of a good cause of helping women and children in need regardless of race, creed, or background.”