Larry David, famed creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, has ignited a media firestorm with his latest satirical essay in The New York Times, “My Dinner With Adolf.” But what’s the real story behind this provocative piece—and why is everyone from USA Today to late-night pundits buzzing about it?
In the essay, published April, David imagines himself dining with Adolf Hitler in, drawing a pointed parallel to recent headlines about Bill Maher’s controversial dinner with President Donald Trump. While David never names Maher or Trump directly, the language and tone unmistakably mirror Maher’s own public reflections on his White House meeting, where Maher described Trump as surprisingly “gracious” and “measured”9.
David’s fictional account is laced with sharp satire, as he describes being disarmed by Hitler’s private persona, only to remind readers of the dangers of normalizing those in power. “Here I was, prepared to meet Hitler... But this private Hitler was a completely different animal,” David writes, echoing Maher’s comments about Trump’s “human” side.
The essay has sparked debate about the limits of satire and the risks of drawing historical comparisons, with The New York Times defending its publication as a commentary on how personal encounters can distort public perception of controversial figures.
As reactions pour in, one thing is clear: Larry David’s latest move has everyone talking—and questioning where the line between comedy and commentary should be drawn.
