Larry David slams Trump's White House UFC fight, says it made him 'embarrassed to be an American'
America 250 Larry David slams Trump's White House UFC fight, says it made him 'embarrassed to be an American'
The comedian made the remarks at the premiere of his Obama-produced HBO sketch series debuting June 26
By
Julia Bonavita Fox News
Published
June 24, 2026 10:25am EDT close 
Video Bill Maher hits back at Larry David's 'dumb' NYT op-ed criticizing his dinner with Trump
On Friday's episode of "Real Time," host Bill Maher slammed comedian Larry David's "dumb" New York Times op-ed from earlier this year, titled "My Dinner with Adolf."
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!Comedian Larry David is blasting President Donald Trump’s celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary with a White House UFC fight, adding that the event made him feel "embarrassed to be an American."
In an interview with Variety, David had harsh words for the president.
"It was a travesty," David told the outlet, referring to Trump’s UFC fight. "What else can you say about it?"
The 78-year-old comic went on to express how he is feeling unpatriotic in light of the event.
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Comedian Larry David arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in Manhattan, New York, on May 4, 2015, celebrating the opening of "China: Through the Looking Glass." (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)
"It was embarrassing," he continued. "I was embarrassed to be an American."
David’s remarks came at the premiere of his new series on HBO, "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness." The show features sketch comedy pieces satirizing pivotal points in U.S. history and is set to debut on June 26.
The series also features a long list of celebrity guests, including Jerry Seinfeld, Vince Vaughn, Rita Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Barack Obama.
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U.S. President Donald J. Trump watches the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Obama’s company, Higher Ground, produced the series, with David telling the outlet the former president is "really good at ad-libbing."
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President Donald Trump hosts the UFC Freedom 250 fights on the South Lawn of the White House on June 15, 2026, celebrating his 80th birthday with a series of Ultimate Fighting Championship matches. (Jacquelyn Martin/Getty Images)
The UFC Freedom 250 fight marked Trump’s 80th birthday and boasted an attendance of roughly 4,300 spectators — including 1,200 active-duty service members.
The event also featured the Marine Band’s performance of the national anthem alongside Zac Brown, and concluded with a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds.
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"It was beyond anything that anybody's ever seen in sports," the president told reporters as he departed the White House ahead of the G7 summit in France.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
Julia Bonavita is a media and culture writer for Fox News Digital, and a Fox Flight Team drone pilot. You can follow her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and send story tips to [email protected].
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.'
