Entertainment

'I would have gone to work on Trump,' says retired David Letterman

David Letterman says he would have handled President Donald Trump a bit differently than Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon.

'I think I would be in the position to give him a bit of a scolding...he would have to sit there and take it'

David Letterman, seen at a California IndyCar event in September, has revealed how he would have handled an interview with U.S. President Donald Trump, in a wide-ranging interview with Vulture. (Eric Riseberg/Associated Press)

David Letterman says he would have handled President Donald Trump a bit differently than Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon.

In a wide-ranging interview with Vulture, the retired late night television icon discussed the playful moment when Fallon tousled Trump's hair during an appearance on his show during the presidential campaign.

Though Fallon got a "fantastic viral clip" out of the moment, Letterman said he "would have gone to work on Trump."

He interviewed Trump dozens of times over the years and added, that if he could today, "I think I would be in the position to give him a bit of a scolding and he would have to sit there and take it. Yeah, I would like an hour with Donald Trump; an hour and a half."

Letterman, who retired in 2015 after 33 years as a late night host, says he doesn't watch late night television anymore and has not seen successor Stephen Colbert's show.

He also revealed the three funniest people he's ever met (all alums of Saturday Night Live): Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, Canadian comedian and actor Norm Macdonald and longtime SNL writer Jim Downey.

David Letterman, seen arriving for a state dinner for Nordic leaders at the White House in May 2016, retired in 2015 after more than 30 years hosting his late-night show. (Andrew Harnik/Associated Press)