A lesson in history for actor/comedian Larry David as he makes fun of Bill Maher’s dinner with Donald Trump. Adolf Hitler is widely recognized as one of history’s most brutal dictators. His regime led to World War II and the Holocaust, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 17 to 20 million people, including six million Jews. However, historical evidence shows that other leaders have caused even higher death tolls through policies, purges, and war. Among these, Mao Zedong of China and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union stand out, both surpassing Hitler in sheer numbers. Even earlier in history, Genghis Khan’s military campaigns left behind a trail of unprecedented destruction. Though the motives and methods differ, the scale of human suffering caused by these figures is immense.

Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China, is believed to be responsible for the deaths of 45 to 70 million people. The most devastating event under Mao was the Great Leap Forward (1958–1962), a radical policy designed to transform China from an agrarian society into an industrial powerhouse. It led to a catastrophic famine, the worst in recorded history, killing tens of millions. In addition, the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) saw mass persecution, public humiliations, and executions of intellectuals, perceived traitors, and political rivals. While not all of these deaths were intentional, Mao’s policies and refusal to accept criticism directly contributed to enormous human suffering.

Joseph Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union from the 1920s until he died in 1953, is responsible for an estimated 20 to 30 million deaths. His reign was marked by ruthless political purges, forced collectivization, and widespread repression. The Holodomor, a man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine from 1932 to 1933, killed millions and is widely seen as a direct consequence of Stalin’s agricultural policies. Stalin also orchestrated the Great Purge (1936–1938), which saw the execution or imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of people, including military officers, intellectuals, and Communist Party members. Millions more perished in the harsh conditions of the Soviet labor camps, known as gulags.

Going further back in history, Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, is believed to have caused between 20 to 40 million deaths during his conquests across Asia and Europe in the 13th century. Though his motivations were primarily expansionist rather than ideological, the result was mass slaughter. Entire cities were often wiped out in retaliation for resistance. At a time when the global population was much smaller, the Mongol invasions were devastating in proportion and lasting impact.

While Adolf Hitler’s crimes, particularly the Holocaust, remain among the most horrific examples of genocide and war, the total number of deaths under Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin arguably surpasses his. These figures are a stark reminder of the deadly consequences that can arise when absolute power is combined with ideology or ambition. In comparing these leaders, it becomes clear that history holds many dark chapters, each illustrating the immense human cost of authoritarian rule.

Larry David missed the memo about Hitler comparisons in the 21st Century when going after Bill Maher for breaking bread with President Trump. I think Larry needs to go back to history class and brush up on his monster comparisons. A good question for Mr. David would be, “What have you been saying privately about your TV wife, Cheryl Hines, behind her back?” Since she is the real wife of a Trump Cabinet Secretary, whom do you compare her to? Do you call Cheryl Hines, Elizabeth Báthory (1560-1614), Ilse Koch (1906-1967), and Jiang Qing (1914-1991) behind her back, in your circles? Or do you need a history lesson on those women, too? Hollywood has no problem turning on their own. We have not forgotten that Donald Trump was from that world and was celebrated by the left.

C. Rich

CRich@AmericaSpeaksInk.com

C. Rich

C. Rich is the voice behind America Speaks Ink, home to the America First Movement. As an author, poet, freelance ghostwriter, and blogger, C. Rich brings a “baked-in” perspective shaped by growing up on the streets and beaches of South Florida in the 1970s-1980s and brings a quintessential Generation-X point of view.

Rich’s writing journey began in 2008 with coverage of the Casey Anthony trial and has since evolved into a wide-ranging exploration of politics, culture, and the issues that define our times. Follow C. Rich’s writing odyssey here at America Speaks Ink and on Amazon with a multi-book series on Donald Trump called “Trump Era: The MAGA Files” and many other books and subjects C. Rich is known to cover.

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