Kamala Harris was not in attendance at the Al Smith Dinner in New York City on Friday, October 17. Her absence resulted in a broken tradition that calls for each election’s presidential candidates to indulge in self-deprecating humour and roast each other. Her truancy at the traditional charity event came two days after Fox News Channel aired her anticipated interview broadcast of ‘Special Report with Bret Baier’ on Wednesday.

Former President Donald Trump was one step ahead in unloading his mockery of the Democratic presidential candidate. The official Trump War Room X/Twitter account also doubled down on launching scathing attacks at the sitting VP, calling her a “coward” for skipping the event.

The audience sounded a roaring alarm following Trump’s footsteps, hitting Harris with massive backlash for her absence. When the speakers announced that she couldn’t “make it here in person” and would be joining everyone “via video,” the crowd came alive and instantly booed her.