David Letterman calls Donald Trump 'repugnant' and 'just despicable' in new interview but points out the presidential hopeful is doing 'nothing illegal' 

  • David Letterman is sitting down with Tom Brokaw for his first full interview since leaving late night last May 
  • In a new preview he attacks Donald Trump, calling him 'repugnant' and 'despicable' 
  • Letterman told Brokaw in a previously released clip: 'I couldn’t care less about late-night television'
  • He also said: 'There should be more women. And I don’t know why they didn’t give my show to a woman. That would have been fine' 
  • The full interview will air Sunday at 7pm on NBC News' On Assignment
  • See more Donald Trump news as David Letterman calls him 'repugnant' 

By Chris Spargo For Dailymail.com

Published: 11:44 EST, 10 June 2016 | Updated: 13:27 EST, 10 June 2016

David Letterman is letting his feelings be known on Donald Trump in a upcoming interview, the first he has done since leaving his eponymous show last May.

The retired late night host, who was known for his comedic barbs and comments about politicians during his many years on the air, seems to find little humor in Trump's current campaign.

'I understand that he's repugnant to people,' Letterman tells Tom Brokaw in a new preview for the interview.

Letterman then adds about Trump however that 'there's nothing illegal going on' when it comes to his comments or beliefs. 

'It's just he's despicable,' says Letterman.

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David Letterman (above) is sitting down with Tom Brokaw for his first full interview since leaving late night last May 

David Letterman (above) is sitting down with Tom Brokaw for his first full interview since leaving late night last May 

In a new preview he attacks Donald Trump, calling him 'repugnant' and 'despicable' (pair above in a 1987 interview)

In a new preview he attacks Donald Trump, calling him 'repugnant' and 'despicable' (pair above in a 1987 interview)

Letterman did manage to find a little humor in the Trump situation though, telling the legendary news anchor as they walk around his alma mater Ball State University: 'And in this very school, an everybody’s school, you hear: "The great thing about America is anybody can grow up to be president."'

Letterman than pauses before muttering: 'Ooh, jeez.'

Letterman's first big public appearance after he retired came last July when he showed up at an event in Texas to roast the billionaire businessman alongside Martin Short and Steve Martin.

'I retired and I have no regrets, none. I was happy. I'll make actual friends,' Letterman told the audience at the event.

'I was complacent I was satisfied I was content... And then a couple of days ago Donald Trump said he was running for president.

He then proceeded to deliver one of his famed Top 10 lists, this one of Trump put-downs.

They included: 'During sex Donald Trump calls out his own name'; 'Donald Trump weighs 240lbs, 250 with cologne'; and coming in at number one, 'Thanks to Donald Trump the Republican mascot is also an ass.' 

Letterman told Brokaw 9above) in a previously released clip: 'I couldn’t care less about late-night television'

Letterman told Brokaw 9above) in a previously released clip: 'I couldn’t care less about late-night television'

Letterman will also speak about his time on late night, and what it is like to now be out of the loop, during the interview.

'I devoted so much time to the damage of other aspects of my life,' Letterman told Brokaw about his many years working in television in a preview of the interview released on Thursday.

'The concentrated, fixated, focusing on that — it’s good now to not have that. I couldn’t care less about late-night television.

Letterman went on to say about the current crop of hosts: 'There should be more women. And I don’t know why they didn’t give my show to a woman. That would have been fine.'

He also revealed that he thought he would miss the job, but as soon as he saw Stephen Colbert host the show for the first time an 'energy' left him and he thought: 'You know, that’s not my problem anymore.'

Letterman, 69, left his show last May after 33 years as a late night host.

He got his start in 1982 on NBC with Late Night with David Letterman and then moved to CBS in 1992 after being passed over in favor of Jay Leno for Johnny Carson's late night gig.

He said shortly before his departure that he played no role in selecting his replacement, but that he liked Colbert.

He reiterated this to Brokaw, saying: 'No, they didn't ask me about anything. They were just -— they were just happy I was going.'

The full interview will air Sunday at 7pm on NBC News' On Assignment. 

 

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