During his show on Monday, ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel revisited a joke he previously made about First Lady Melania Trump, comparing her appearance to that of an “expectant widow.” Despite backlash from both Melania and President Donald Trump, who urged Disney to terminate him following an assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Kimmel stood by his remarks.
Addressing the controversy in his opening monologue, Kimmel remarked, “There was little reaction until this morning when another Twitter storm erupted, with calls for my dismissal led by our First Lady.” He explained that the joke was a commentary on the age difference and the expression of joy observed on Melania’s face when she is with Trump.
Kimmel’s commentary aired only days before 31-year-old Cole Allen from Torrance, California, breached security at a metal detector and fired at a Secret Service agent, before being subdued and arrested.
In response to Kimmel’s remarks, First Lady Melania Trump expressed her disapproval, stating, “Kimmel’s hateful rhetoric is designed to divide our nation. His comments about my family are not comedy—they’re toxic and exacerbate America’s political divide.” She further criticized, “Individuals like Kimmel should not be allowed into our homes each night to spread animosity,” and urged ABC to take decisive action, asking, “How long will ABC’s leadership tolerate Kimmel’s unacceptable behavior at our community’s expense.”
President Trump also weighed in, declaring, “I appreciate the outrage from so many over Kimmel’s deplorable incitement to violence. Normally, I wouldn’t respond to him, but this is extraordinarily unacceptable. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately dismissed by Disney and ABC. Thank you for addressing this matter,” signed President DONALD J. TRUMP.
Meanwhile, Allen, identified as a Kamala Harris donor, now faces multiple federal charges for the attempted assassination of President Trump.
President Trump piled on in his own statement, saying “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! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Allen, a Kamala Harris donor, was charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump on Monday and is expected to face several federal charges.
ABC said last December it signed Kimmel to a one-year contract extension, before his previous contract was up in May. The deal keeps Kimmel on air as Disney’s late-night comedian until at least May 2027.
