Donald Trump has waded into the controversy surrounding a resurfaced Jimmy Kimmel joke about First Lady Melania Trump.
The days-old Kimmel joke emerged on social media following the Saturday shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Last week, during Thursday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host parodied the dinner in advance, delivering his own alternative comedy monologue as the event’s MC. Among the gags, Kimmel joked that Melania had the glow of an “expectant widow.”
Days later, a gunman opened fire at the annual Washington, D.C. event and was apprehended at the scene. Attorney General Todd Blanche has said that investigators believe the suspected shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was targeting members of President Donald Trump’s administration.
After Melania urged Kimmel’s broadcaster ABC to “take a stand” in a Monday morning tweet, Donald targeted the comedian in a statement of his own about the “really shocking” joke.
Slamming Kimmel as “in no way funny as attested to by his terrible Television Ratings,” Trump wrote, “I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Donald’s statement came hours after Melania wrote on X: “Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.
“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate. A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him,” she continued.
“Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community.”
The Independent has contacted ABC and Kimmel’s representatives for comment.
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It comes months after Jimmy Kimmel Live! was taken off air in September last year, over his controversial remarks about right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk’s killing.
Before the suspension was lifted, big names in Hollywood and politics — including former President Barack Obama — quickly condemned the move and raised concerns about free speech.
In his emotional return to the show, Kimmel said he accepted that some people felt his remarks about Kirk’s death had been “ill-timed or unclear or maybe both,” adding: “I get why you’re upset.”
Just three months after his late night return, Kimmel and ABC agreed to a contract extension, taking the show through May 2027.
In recent months, Kimmel and the president have regularly exchanged jabs, with the latter describing the TV show host as a “loser” on Fox News’ The Five in March.
“He gets no ratings, none,” Donald said. “He’s got no talent.”
Many of the president’s supporters have blasted Kimmel on X over his Melania joke, even though it took place days before the shooting.
On X, right-wing political commentator Benny Johnson suggested that ABC should “issue a full on-air apology” from the host or have their broadcasting license “revoked.”
Larry O’Connor, editor of conservative outlet Townhall, labeled Kimmel a “broken man” and wrote on X, “@disney, you have a problem.”
