David Letterman Responds to Trump Attacks With Throwback Clip, Calls Him a 'Dictator'

David Letterman released a YouTube video Friday that foregrounded his reaction to a Truth Social post from Donald Trump, who attacked the former late-night host and labeled him “very highly overrated.” The exchange comes in the wake of ABC’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live from the schedule last week and amid ongoing tensions over late-night programming and public license threats.

In the video, Letterman said he was “thrilled” to see Trump engage publicly, framing Trump’s post as newsworthy more for its partisan drama than for any substantive critique. He noted that Trump questioned what had happened to him and claimed his old show’s ratings were never very good, while Letterman refused to indulge the president’s post but offered a broader critique of the current political climate. Letterman also referenced a 2008 clip in which Trump boasted about the ratings of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, using it to underscore the former president’s habit of tying popularity to media metrics.

Letterman described the exchange as a reflection of a broader pattern, comparing Trump’s behavior to that of a dictator. He said the country would be better off without such rhetoric and urged Americans to consider the implications of what he called “lunatic behavior” from the highest office. In a lighter moment within the same video, Letterman recalled Trump’s earlier remarks about his appearance, saying the criticism was similar to “the kettle calling the pot black.” He stressed that the country should not normalize abusive conduct from a president.

The video also touched on broader media history. Earlier in the clip, Letterman credited Jimmy Kimmel with “saving the republic,” calling Kimmel’s return monologue on Tuesday “perfect and moving.” He suggested Kimmel had offered a new energy to late-night television at a time when American audiences face a polarized public sphere, and he urged viewers not to delay civic action or response ahead of upcoming midterm elections.

The clash surrounding Kimmel’s show has drawn attention to the federal government’s role in regulating broadcast content. Letterman’s remarks come as broadcasters and lawmakers debate the limits of on-air discourse and the possible implications of licensing actions tied to late-night personalities. While Trump’s post focused on personal ratings and public persona, Letterman’s response framed the moment as part of a larger pattern of political theater that could shape public perception in the months ahead.

As the public conversation continued, Letterman reiterated a call for Americans to engage with the political process beyond the immediate media spectacle. He suggested that public dialogue and accountability matter more than headline-grabbing attacks and urged viewers to consider the long-term health of the republic.

In another sign of the ongoing media and political crosscurrents, Letterman’s latest remarks arrived days after he publicly pressed President Trump and regulatory figures over the balance between entertainment and governance. The video, published on Letterman’s official YouTube channel, showcases the former late-night host’s signature blend of humor and pointed critique, while anchoring his commentary in a long history of late-night discourse that often intersects with national political debates.

The public-facing exchange between Letterman and Trump — framed through social media, television history, and regulatory questions — underscores how late-night figures continue to occupy a responsive, sometimes adversarial, space in American culture. For its part, Kimmel’s return remains a reference point for many observers who view late-night television as a barometer of national mood and political sentiment. Letterman’s comments about Kimmel’s impact—describing his comeback as both hopeful and necessary—emphasize the role media personalities play in shaping public conversation beyond party lines.

As audiences digest these developments, observers will watch how Letterman’s critique, Trump’s rebuttal, and the ongoing Kimmel controversy influence perceptions of leadership, media responsibility, and the boundaries of performative political speech. With U.S. politics once again intersecting with entertainment, the question remains how much longer public figures can separate cultural commentary from real-world consequences—and at what cost to civil discourse.