Trump and Melania set to attend Al Smith dinner together as former president rips Harris’s no-show: Live

Donald Trump held Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Joe Biden responsible for the Russia-Ukraine war in an interview — but made no reference to Vladimir Putin.

Two and a half years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump pinned the blame squarely on Zelensky and Biden for the conflict during an interview with podcaster Patrick Bet-David, which aired Thursday.

You might be wondering where Donald Trump is ahead of tonight’s Al Smith dinner.

Well, this afternoon he visited a barber shop in the Bronx:

And then posted that he had just found out Kamala Harris would be delivering a video message to the dinner:

Just found out that Lyin’ Kamala is doing a video message tonight instead of being at the Al Smith Dinner. She shouldn’t be allowed to do a video message. Kamala should be there like almost every other Presidential Candidate in their History, except Walter Mondale, who lost 49-1. They didn’t give me the option of a video message, nor would I have done it. This is very disrespectful to everyone involved. She should be here, or lose the Catholic Vote!

This evening Trump will be joined by his wife Melania Trump at the white-tie dinner for Catholic charities, as well as by a host of New York luminaries and elected officials, including the state’s attorney general Letitia James, who successfully prosecuted him for fraud.

Senator Mitch McConnell reportedly referred to Donald Trump as a “despicable human being” and “narcissist” who is “stupid as well as being ill-tempered”.

In the weeks leading up to the January 6 attack on the Capitol, McConnell privately told people he was “counting the days” until Trump left office as the former president spread lies about mass voter fraud in an attempt to overturn election results in his favor.

His comments, revealed in a forthcoming biography, give some insight into his contentious relationship with Trump and his true feelings about the former president.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Bill Clinton mocked Donald Trump for his impromptu dance party this week after two members of the audience at his town hall had medical emergencies: “I’m only two months younger than Donald Trump. But I will not spend 30 minutes swaying back and forth listening to music. And I will not clap offbeat… I am not here running for anything anymore except for my grandchildren’s future.”

Lauren Boebert’s Democratic rival in her congressional reelection bid has reportedly raised five times more cash in the third fundraising quarter.

Calvarese plans to declare bringing in more than $2.68 million from July through September, compared to roughly $532,000 raised by Boebert, according to figures shared by her campaign with The Independent.

Kamala Harris slams Donald Trump’s description of January 6 as “a day of love,” during a Univision town hall last night.

“The American people are exhausted with his gaslighting. Enough, enough! We’re done. We are ready to turn the page!” she told her rally in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to cheers.

McDonald’s is not exactly famous for having an over-complicated menu.

It’s not The Cheesecake Factory.