Kimmel Takes a Jibe at Trump’s Relationship

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel continued his playful taunting of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Wednesday. This came after some criticism over a joke he made last week about the couple.

Kimmel kicked off his monologue by claiming his humor might have unexpectedly strengthened their bond. “It seems like our first couple, Donald and Melania, are closer than ever,” he stated. “Maybe I had a hand in that.”

He referenced recent footage from a state dinner at the White House with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, highlighting the couple’s slightly awkward interaction.

“Given the week we’ve had with them, this seems like a totally normal interaction for two people deeply in love,” Kimmel joked. “Maybe those bruises on his hands are from Melania giving him a good whack.”

The context of Kimmel’s jokes follows a controversial moment on April 23, when he hosted the White House Correspondents’ Association Alternative Dinner. This event came about because the Trump administration opted against having comedians at the annual gathering.

During that dinner, he made remarks about Melania that sparked significant backlash. “Melania, you’re radiant,” Kimmel quipped. “You have the glow of a pregnant widow.”

Just days later, the actual dinner was marred by a shooting at the Washington Hilton, with authorities charging Cole Allen, 31, from California, with attempted assassination of the president and violations of federal weapons laws. The motivation behind the act remains unclear.

In response, both President Trump and Melania publicly criticized Kimmel. Trump called for Kimmel’s immediate firing on Truth Social, and Melania echoed those sentiments, stating that people like Kimmel shouldn’t be allowed to share negativity in our homes nightly.

Kimmel later defended himself, saying his comments weren’t meant to incite violence. “It was not a call to assassination, no matter how that might be interpreted,” he insisted. “I’ve been an outspoken opponent of gun violence for years.”

This ongoing dispute draws attention to broader tensions between the Trump administration and ABC’s parent company, Disney, particularly after the Federal Communications Commission started reviewing Disney’s broadcast licenses amidst discussions on diversity and inclusion policies.