Former President Donald Trump acted to mend fences with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer backstage at Thursday night’s Al Smith Dinner — before kicking them down again with a joke about the Brooklyn Democrat’s odds of becoming the “first woman president.”
“You’re my guy, you’re my guy,” Trump, 78, said as he warmly shook Schumer’s hand with both of his ahead of the $5,000-a-plate charity soiree, according to a source close to both men.
Schumer, 73, was seated center stage at the white-tie event, but stood up and clapped for the 45th president, who was seated just two places away — next to host Cardinal Timothy Dolan and former first lady Melania Trump.
Trump was later caught on camera leaning in and speaking inaudibly to Schumer for several moments before taking the podium to let rip with some of his best material.
“Chuck Schumer is here looking very glum,” Trump ribbed the top Senate Democrat while patting him on the back. “Doesn’t he look glum? He looks glum.”
“But look on the bright side, Chuck,” the Republican nominee added, “considering how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Chuck Schumer is here looking very glum — But look on the bright side, Chuck, considering how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president.” 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/BjPY3YtcrZ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024
The audience erupted with laughter, but Schumer, who was sitting directly to Trump’s left, did not look amused.
Trump and his allies have hammered Vice President Kamala Harris throughout the campaign for quietly abandoning her past left-wing stances — including her support for taxpayer-funded sex reassignment surgeries for prison inmates.
“The press is reporting the Democrats are starting to panic,” Trump had said immediately before his one-liner directed to Schumer. “They are panicking because you know the votes that are coming in are coming in very, very strong — a certain way. I won’t tell you what way that is.”
Schumer helped pave the way for Harris’ ascent to the top of the 2024 Democratic ticket by pressuring President Biden to suspend his re-election campaign in July.
The Senate leader was nevertheless one of the last senior Democrats to publicly endorse Harris’ candidacy.
While Trump previously identified as a Democrat and even donated thousands of dollars to Schumer’s congressional campaigns in the 1980s and ’90s, Trump has swapped insults with the Senate majority leader since taking up the Republican Party’s mantle.
In an interview released Thursday, hours before the dinner, Trump said Schumer and other top Democrats were “threats” to the country due to their handling of the ongoing migrant crisis.
During the dinner exchange, Schumer wagged his index finger at Trump as the former president leaned over, though it’s unclear what the two men discussed.
The apparent frostiness didn’t stop Trump from complimenting Schumer Thursday night.
“I actually said, ‘Do you mind if I do that?’ and he said, ‘No, you gotta do what you gotta do.’ He’s a pro, he’s a professional,” the former president said.
“Nah, he’s a good man, actually. I hate to say it. Don’t ever use it against me, please,” Trump added. “But I’ve known him a long time.”
