Larry David on Barack Obama’s ‘Perfect’ Comedic Timing in New HBO Show and Donald Trump’s White House UFC Fight: ‘I Was Embarrassed to Be an American’
Larry David is celebrating the United States’ 250th birthday with his new HBO show, “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America,” but he wasn’t feeling too patriotic when President Donald Trump marked the nation’s milestone anniversary with a UFC fight at the White House.
“It was a travesty,” David told me Tuesday night at the “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” premiere in Hollywood. “What else can you say about it? It was embarrassing. I was embarrassed to be an American.”
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#LarryDavid says President Donald Trump's UFC fight at the White House made him "embarrassed to be an American." pic.twitter.com/zFlCfeOwyG
— Variety (@Variety) June 24, 2026
Premiering June 26 on HBO, “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America” is a sketch show satirizing key points in U.S. history.
Popular on Variety
The series features a slew of celebrity guests, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill Hader, Kathryn Hahn, Jon Hamm, Henry Winkler, Sean Hayes, Joe Manganiello, Jane Krakowski, Greg Kinnear, Alan Tudyk, Rita Wilson, Jerry and David Seinfeld. Vince Vaughn also guest stars, as do “Curb Your Enthusiasm” alumni Jeff Garlin, J.B. Smoove and Susie Essman as Susan B. Anthony.
Barack Obama also acts in one of the skits. His and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground is producing the series.
#LarryDavid says it was “really trippy” acting alongside President Barack Obama in “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.” pic.twitter.com/O6HJOYWFMk
— Variety (@Variety) June 24, 2026
While details of the skit are being kept under wraps, David said Obama had “perfect” comedic timing. “He was really good at ad-libbing,” David said.
He described having Obama as a scene partner as “really trippy.”
“It was exciting. We had a great time,” David said, adding he tried not to think about it too much because he didn’t want “to screw it up.”
Perhaps the former President will earn an acting Emmy for his performance? In typical David behavior, he shrugged, “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Larry David isn’t too sure Barack Obama's role in “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” will win him an Emmy, despite the former president's “perfect” comedic timing.
— Variety (@Variety) June 24, 2026
“I wouldn't go that far.” pic.twitter.com/ihY5OzJw19
It was Higher Ground who approached David about the project.
“I know the President a little bit. We played golf together, and I did a Super Bowl ad maybe four or five years ago where I was dressed in costumes and everything. So maybe that was part of their thinking,” David said. “I don’t know. Maybe they just like ‘Curb.’”
David sure does wear a lot of period costumes and wigs. No surprise, but he wasn’t a fan of spending so much time in hair and makeup. “I don’t know how people walk around with wigs and hairpieces,” he said. “It feels like you’ve got 1,000 insects crawling on your head and beards are even worse. They’re so itchy, you can’t eat.”
The series is directed by co-creator Jeff Schaffer. Higher Ground’s Ethan Lewis serves as executive producer.
In order to keep the evening free of spoilers, guest stars who attended the premiere, including Garlin, Essman and Winkler, were not allowed to talk to press. David, Schaffer and Lewis were the only ones giving interviews.
Lewis told me that the Obamas were looking to celebrate the 250th anniversary, but wanted to do so “in a way that feels unexpected and unique.”
Schaffer said one of his biggest concerns was what to call Obama while directing him. “I was telling the Higher Ground people, ‘What do I call him when I want to give him a note?’” he recalled. “They were like, ‘Just try sir.’ You’re trying to remember not to just go, ‘Alright, Barack, you’ve got to do this,’ because we move really fast. But he was amazing.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
