Jerry Seinfeld, Donald Trump In War Of Words Over President Obama's Birth Certificate

Safe to say, Jerry Seinfeld won't be voting for Donald Trump.

The New York Post reports that the comedian pulled out of an event benefitting the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital that Trump's son Eric is hosting in September because of his distaste for the billionaire businessman/TV host's aggressive questioning of President Obama's birth certificate and citizenship.

"I just learned you canceled a show for my son's charity," Trump wrote to Seinfeld in a letter obtained by the Post, "because of the fact that I am being very aggressive with respect to President Obama, who is doing an absolutely terrible job as our leader."

"We don't care that you broke your commitment," he wrote, "even though the children of St. Jude are very disappointed, and despite the fact that your manager clearly stated you are 'truly a man of his word.'"

Trump also said he regretted going on Seinfeld's less than successful reality show "The Marriage Ref," calling it a failure.

In a statement to the Post, a Seinfeld rep said, "Jerry... feels this kind of demagoguery has no place in public discourse... He has respectfully withdrawn from the event, and is making a contribution both to the Eric Trump Foundation and to [St. Jude]."

Trump has been aggressive in his questioning of Obama's legitimacy as President, sending staffers to Hawaii to investigate Obama's birth certificate.

"I want to see the birth certificate," said Trump told the "Today Show" earlier in April. "How come his own family doesn't know which hospital he was born in? How come-- forget about birth certificates. Let's say there's no birth certificate. How come in the hospital itself, okay? This is one of the... in the hospital itself, there's no records of his birth. In other words, it doesn't say how much they paid, where is the doctor, here's your room bill."

Seinfeld was in the news recently for comments he made about the British Royal wedding, which he called "a circus act" while live on British television.

"And that's what the royal family is -- it's a huge game of pretend. These aren't special people -- its fake outfits, fake phoney hats and gowns," he said on ITV's "Daybreak."

For more, click over to the NY Post.

 

 

Comments

[happysquared]

10:08 PM on 05/13/2011

I don't think Trump is serious about running, and he is clearly just stirring the pot. It is sad though, to see so many in the GOP actually wanting to see him run. Actually the word more appropriate word is scary.

I am not worried about 2012; 2016 is what really worries me.

[Terry Klingberg]

11:29 PM on 05/08/2011

President Obama (thinking) ... money, Trump, money, Trump, money, money .... Hey, Donald, Ill speak at your son's charity ... lol I love our President and so does Donald, he just wants to BE HIM,

[builderman55]

09:37 AM on 05/01/2011

There is one great fear that Trump has: being ignored. He is a classless, personality-challenged egotist who's real value to humanity is inversely proportional to his real worth. Everything he is doing right now has one purpose--to get him attention and keep him in the public eye. His talent for self-promotion however is finely tuned, and his only real skill. And, he has absolutely NO interest in being President--King maybe, but not President.

[MrCool]

03:53 PM on 04/29/2011

I read that it was St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Seinfeld that you were going to do your schtick for.
I don't follow how that relates to your feelings towards Trump. Your not keeping your word to help raise funds for St. Judes does not punish Trump.
Perhaps you should have stayed in the city and not moved to Hollywood.

[Jake1180]

02:44 AM on 04/29/2011

I think Seinfeld is much more in touch with the people than Trump. Honestly, if we the people elect a fraud such as Trump as president, we no longer have any right to complain about dissidence in our society. At that point, you've asked for it.

[MrCool]

03:54 PM on 04/29/2011

Yes, "He feels their pain."

[Nancy J]

02:24 AM on 04/29/2011

who's Joey Lawrence?

[MrCool]

03:55 PM on 04/29/2011

I don't know. I was going to ask you.

[devus73]

10:12 AM on 04/27/2011

Some people are trying to compare trump with michael richards. How could Jerry Seinfeld stand up for one and not the other, the ask. Last I checked, Kramer wasn't thinking to run for the most powerful job in the world. trump is.

[JM80NY]

04:43 PM on 04/26/2011

Go Trump! This guy is hilarious and such an accurate representation of GOP philosophies and values. My favorite part is how he mentioned Seinfeld's reality show. Yes Trump. We know you have a top rated prime time network reality show. It's a hallmark of American Broadcast. You should pat yourself on the back if you haven't already.

[quietus28]

04:36 PM on 04/26/2011

Shame Trump wasn't this vociferous regarding the last president, who was far worse than the guy doing "a terrible job as our leader." I know The Donald always likes to bring up about how we treat our Chinese overlords vs. how he'd treat them; well, maybe he should be angry with the guy who sold us out to them.
Oh, and Jerry was spot-on about the royal wedding: it's embarrassing how much time, energy and money is spent covering this, while Japan is falling apart and other actually relevant things are happening in the world. So much good could be done by focusing the electron beam on the appropriate situation, but what does the news care about doing their duty vs. getting good ratings?

[Sharon T Walls]

04:23 PM on 04/27/2011

Love your comment and right on point.

[MrCool]

04:04 PM on 04/29/2011

Great point on the so-called "media." What has happened with the national news over the past 20 years?
First they are here and then they are gone. In recent history, examples such as Katrina, BP's well blow-up in our Gulf, and Japan stick out. Lots of initial reporting, then we may hear about it again on their one year anniversary.
Also, what has happened to the "investigative journalist?" For a reporter, it was once a pass to the top in their profession, should they hit the right story.

[avam2009]

06:15 AM on 04/26/2011

"And that's what the royal family is -- it's a huge game of pretend. These aren't special people -- its fake outfits, fake phoney hats and gowns," he said on ITV's "Daybreak." - Yep, got it in one. It's like the emporer's new clothes. I'm british (english) and I'll watch the wedding from an historical point of view, but england is based on an entrenched class system (far and away beyond any wealth 'class' system that exists in, say, the US). The opportunities that exist in teh UK are still Very much dependent on background, accent, class. Yes, to a degree this exists in any social situtation, but in the UK it is part Of being british. As a tourist spectacle the royal family are interesting (although the amount of income they generate in relation to the costs of their houses etc is very much a contested issue in the UK), but seinfeld is correct - they are just regular people born into lives of privilige...are the smartest (emphatically no), the kindest (no), the best looking (no), the most skilled (no). Indeed, they are, in many of the ways in which individuals and societies judge one another, to be lacking - and yet it is they who are lauded as being not only special but almost worshipped.

[KaLeeDo]

04:48 AM on 04/26/2011

Can't disagree with Trump's assessment of the Marriage Ref...what a stinker of a show!

[Alouisious Manfree]

03:29 AM on 04/26/2011

Just what we need; a war of words between a rich, New York comedian.....and Jerry Seinfeld!!

[greenie 61]

03:13 AM on 04/26/2011

Jerry is a self-made millionaire who created one of the most successful shows in television history. Trump was born into wealth, filed for chapter 11 a few times, had a few marriages & apparently, HAS to work in television to be relevant. Which one would you rather be?

[thrugreeneyez]

10:28 PM on 04/25/2011

I respect Jerry for what he did and how he handled it.

[Tariq Aziz]

03:46 PM on 04/26/2011

Trump is a dope. Seinfled is a clueless bozo.

[Janet Jones]

08:36 PM on 04/26/2011

You respect Jerry for taking money out of the hands of the kids of St. Jude? Wow. That's what it boils down to. He isn't hurting anyone but the kids.

[Imago]

11:39 PM on 04/26/2011

Did you see that he made donations both to Eric Trump's foundation and to St. Jude's?

[Denise Lane Painter]

09:28 AM on 04/28/2011

Actually, Janet, you're wrong. First, Jerry made donations to both the Trump Foundation AND St. Judes in his name. AND, by taking this stand and getting it publicized, there are many Seinfeld fans who will donate because of Jerry that might not have otherwise. I admire him for being strong enough and brave enough to stand up to "The Dona$$". So many celebrities wouldn't because they're afraid DT would come after them. I too hope that he continues to run for President, because with every step he just keeps digging the hole deeper...")

[PhilliesWS08]

09:56 PM on 04/25/2011

Trump = idiot!!! Team Jerry!!!!