Kimmel Responds to Trump’s Call for Him to Be Fired

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel addressed President Donald Trump’s demand to fire First Lady Melania Trump over a joke he made. This occurred during Kimmel’s show last Thursday, just days prior to an assassination attempt related to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Kimmel explained that his joke was not intended to incite violence but was simply about the age difference between the Trumps. He remarked, “I said, ‘Our first lady, Melania, is here. So beautiful, Mrs. Trump. You have the glow of a pregnant widow.'” He emphasized that it was a lighthearted comment reflecting their age gap, with him being only three years younger than Melania, who recently turned 56, while Trump will soon be 80.

“This is not, by any definition, an assassination call, and I think they know that,” Kimmel said. He acknowledged the challenges that Melania might face, especially over the past weekend, suggesting it must be a stressful environment for her.

First Lady Melania Trump described Kimmel’s remarks as “hateful and violent,” asserting that they contribute to division in the country. She urged ABC to take a stand against such rhetoric, stating, “His words are corrosive and deepen the political ills within America.” She also accused Kimmel of being a coward for hiding behind the network and called for accountability from ABC’s leadership.

President Trump labeled Kimmel’s jokes about his wife as “insane” and urged the network, along with its parent company Disney, to terminate Kimmel’s contract. He expressed outrage, highlighting that the day after Kimmel’s joke, a man attempted to enter the Correspondents’ Dinner armed with weapons. “I am grateful that so many people are outraged by Kimmel’s vile calls for violence,” Trump added.

Following the incident, authorities arrested 31-year-old Cole Allen, who is facing attempted assassination charges which could result in a life sentence.