Trump delivers harsh remarks on Clinton at charity dinner

Donald Trump abandoned decades of tradition Thursday night with a tough takedown of Hillary Clinton at an annual charity dinner that prompted booing of the Republican presidential nominee.

Clinton's remarks, too, largely lacked the self-deprecating humor that is typical at the Al Smith dinner, which benefits Catholic charities and is often one of the final opportunities for presidential candidates to share a stage before the election.

But where Clinton's remarks singed, Trump's burned -- costing him an opportunity to take some of the heat off his campaign as it struggles through the final three weeks of the 2016 contest.

No happy warriors to be found at Al Smith dinner

"I wasn't really sure if Hillary was going to be here tonight because, I guess, you didn't send her invitation by email. Or maybe you did, and she just found out about it through the wonder of WikiLeaks," Trump said. "We've learned so much from WikiLeaks. For example, Hillary believes that it is vital to deceive the people by having one public policy and a totally different policy in private."

When the audience booed at that line, Trump said, "That's OK, I don't know who they're angry at, Hillary, you or I. For example, here she is tonight, in public, pretending not to hate Catholics."

The jeers from the audience were unusual for the event.

"I've been to that dinner like six, seven, eight times," Christine Quinn, the former speaker of New York's city council, told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "I've never heard boos like that. Never."

Hillary Clinton speaks briefly with Donald Trump while attending the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria on October 20, 2016 in New York City.

Also unusual for the Al Smith dinner: Neither offered any kind words about the other.

The night, which followed another brutal debate on Wednesday, underscored that Americans face a choice in two and a half weeks between two candidates who plainly don't like each other and have waged one of the most negative campaigns in recent memory.

Trump opened with light-hearted remarks -- referencing his "beautiful hands" and joking that the event with more than 1,500 attendees was for him "a small, intimate dinner with some friends. Or as Hillary calls it, her largest crowd of the season."

Al Smith dinner: Most memorable lines

But the mood turned dour when Trump began to directly take on Clinton.

Trump skewered Clinton's use of a personal email server and accused her of ducking FBI questions. He pointed to WikiLeaks' hack of Democratic emails and accused her of hating the Catholics for whom the event is a high-dollar fundraiser, with attendees paying at least $3,000 each.

"According to her sworn testimony, Hillary has forgotten more things than most of us will ever, ever know -- that I can tell you," Trump said, to crickets. "We're having some fun here tonight."

Clinton takes shot at Trump's comments on women

Clinton, too, made a more direct political attack on Trump than is customary at an event that typically features light-hearted roasting.

With Trump's wife in attendance, Clinton said: "Donald looks at the Statue of Liberty and sees a 4 -- maybe a 5 if she loses the torch and tablet and changes her hair."

Hillary Clinton's entire speech at the Al Smith dinner 18:50

Clinton joked about her own personality. "I know that I am not known for my sense of humor. That's why it did take a village to write these jokes," she said.

She also lampooned the Democratic ticket -- including Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.

"I'm not boring at all. In fact, I'm the life of every party I attend, and I've been to three," she said, adding that when parties get out of hand, they need a "chaperone to get them home safely -- and that is why I picked Tim Kaine to be my vice president."

Her remarks, too, included sharp shots at Trump. She accused him of "translating from the original Russian" when he reads off teleprompters -- a reference to Trump's coziness with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mocking a letter from Trump's doctor about his health that lacked specifics, Clinton said: "Donald really is as healthy as a horse -- you know, the one Vladimir Putin rides around on."

During most of the dinner, Trump sat, arms crossed, grinning during Clinton's jokes. But while Clinton looked toward the podium to watch Trump during his address, the Republican nominee mostly looked in front of him, reacting only by listening to Clinton's jokes.

When Clinton wrapped, he heartily applauded. After Clinton's remarks, Trump leaned in to say "good job."

Via CNN.