David Letterman Warns Late Night Successor After “Dictator” Trump Attacks

David Letterman Warns Late Night Successor After “Dictator” Trump Attacks David Letterman smiling at a press conference By  Nick Bythrow Published 29 minutes ago Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

David Letterman offers a solemn warning to his Late Night successor Seth Meyers after attacks by President Donald Trump, calling for the host to be fired. Trump targeted Late Night with Seth Meyers, accosting him on Truth Social. He called for NBC's late-night talk show host to be fired on November 15, while also accusing him of "Trump Derangement Syndrome."

Now, People reports that, while making an appearance on the Barbara Gaines Show, Letterman explained how proud he was of Meyers for his work on Late Night. Referring to Trump as "our dictator," the former host of the show offered a warning to Meyers, while also explaining his personal stance on Trump. Check out Letterman's statement below:

The president of the United States now wants to fire Seth Meyers. And I thought, 'This is just delightful.' How do you think that's gonna go? Anyway, I've never been more proud of Seth Meyers. That's our old show, as a matter of fact. We used to do that show.

Just remember, Seth: things happen. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen.

It knows no bounds. It's never-ending, he's our current — he's our dictator. He's not going anywhere.

Think of the worst thing that you've ever seen humans accomplish. This is so much worse. Couldn't be more... Uh, it's delightful.

Trump and Meyers' feud began as early as August 27, when the President made a post to his social media platform, Truth Social, after he learned NBC had extended Meyers' contract through 2028 (which happened in May 2024). Trump called the Late Night host "one of the least talented" late-night talk show hosts currently on the air.

Regarding Trump's November 15 comments, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr reposted them on his X account, seemingly sharing the same sentiment about Meyers as the President. Meyers, however, didn't take the comments sitting down, joking about being on Trump's "s*** list" during his November 17 monologue. He also named multiple other people on said "list," saying it didn't make him special.

Meyers is one of many late-night talk show hosts to get into hot water with Trump's administration this year. In September 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live! went off the air for a week after the title host's comments about the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk. He's also been at odds with Stephen Colbert, whose show is ending in May 2026.

Letterman's comments not only commend Meyers for his work, but also align with the former Late Night host's previous statements on Trump. He critiqued President Trump as early as 2015, when he was running for his first term, during Steve Martin and Martin Short's A Very Stupid Conversation show. After a decade, his feelings have remained much the same.

While Letterman is proud of Meyers for standing up to Trump, his statement that "things happen" is a warning for him to stay on his toes. The Late Night host having drawn the President's eye could mean some negative events may transpire. However, he's still clearly happy with the work his successor has been doing on his former show.

7.7/10

Late Night With Seth Meyers

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Talk Comedy Release Date February 24, 2014 Network NBC Writers Conner O'Malley

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• Seth Meyers Self - Host

Genres Talk, Comedy Creator(s) David Letterman, Seth Meyers Powered by Expand Collapse

• Late Night With Seth Meyers
• David Letterman

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