April 21, 2011; Source: CNN | Even to comedian Jerry Seinfield, some things aren’t funny.  Bothered by Donald Trump’s “birther” attacks on President Obama, Seinfeld decided not to appear at a September benefit that Eric Trump, son of the real-estate mogul and would-be GOP presidential candidate, is organizing for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.  

In response, the elder Trump fired off an angry letter to Seinfeld.  He wrote: “I just learned you canceled a show for my son’s charity, The Eric Trump Foundation, which benefits the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (children with cancer) because of the fact that you think I am being very aggressive with respect to President Obama, who is doing an absolutely terrible job as our leader – just look at Libya, our economy, gas, food, and clothing prices and maybe you will understand what is going on!”  

According to CNN, Seinfeld’s manager said the comedian decided to cancel t after becoming “increasingly uncomfortable” over comments from Trump calling into question whether the president is a United States citizen.  The manager added that Seinfeld “feels this kind of demagoguery has no place in public discourse.”  Despite canceling, Seinfeld has pledged to make contributions both to the Eric Trump Foundation and St. Jude’s.—Bruce Trachtenberg