Catholic comedian Jim Gaffigan, a six-time Grammy nominee, will serve as host for the 2024 Al Smith Dinner on October 17. This annual event, organized by the Archdiocese of New York, is expected to feature two major presidential candidates, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, as guests.

Gaffigan shared an image of the event's invitation on X (formerly Twitter), humorously claiming not to recognize the names of Trump and Harris, the two candidates listed. "I’m so honored to be MC-ing this year’s Al Smith Memorial Dinner on Oct. 17," he said in his post. "Too bad I don’t recognize those two names in the middle of the invitation. Anyone ever heard of them?"

The Al Smith Dinner, first held in 1945, is a prestigious black-tie fundraiser named after Alfred E. Smith, the first Catholic nominee for U.S. president from a major party. The dinner helps raise funds for charitable causes within the archdiocese, with $7.1 million raised in 2023 for those in need.

Gaffigan, known for his Catholic-themed stand-up routines, has been vocal about his faith and its complexities, often poking fun at his religious identity in performances. In his 2018 comedy special *Noble Ape*, he reflected on his relationship with the Church, admitting, "I’m not a good Catholic. Like if there was a test for Catholics, I would fail. But then again, most Catholics would fail, which is probably why there’s not a test."

He has also participated in Catholic events, including performing at the Festival of Families during Pope Francis' 2015 visit to the U.S. Earlier this year, Gaffigan met the Pope alongside other comedians, including Stephen Colbert and Chris Rock, at a gathering in the Vatican.

While Gaffigan is often lighthearted about his faith, he has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump. During the 2020 election, he condemned Trump on social media, labeling him "a traitor" and "a con man" and questioning his pro-life stance. Despite his political views, Gaffigan's role as host continues the tradition of the Al Smith Dinner, where presidential candidates humorously exchange barbs in a light-hearted atmosphere. Both Trump and Joe Biden attended the 2020 dinner, while Trump and Hillary Clinton participated in 2016.