Daniel Baldwin Critiques Jimmy Kimmel’s Comments After Assassination Attempt

Actor Daniel Baldwin has voiced criticism towards Jimmy Kimmel’s political remarks following the recent attempt on President Donald Trump’s life. He accused the late-night host of “instilling this kind of hatred.” In a segment from the May 3 episode of ‘The Daniel Baldwin Show,’ Baldwin expressed his disappointment over the reaction to the shooting that occurred during last month’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where authorities claim the shooter specifically targeted Trump and his team.

Baldwin took this opportunity to condemn Hollywood’s anti-Trump attitude and highlighted Kimmel’s ongoing criticism of the president. He noted that, in an industry often dismissive of Republicans, the level of comfort in discussing political violence was alarming. “I remember being on movie sets with celebrities and Oscar winners,” Baldwin remarked. “They would openly criticize politicians, saying things like, ‘Yeah, someone should get him.’ That kind of language surprised me, as your words carry weight.”

Baldwin also questioned whether Kimmel comprehends the potential consequences of his monologues. “Doesn’t Jimmy Kimmel realize that if you keep bombarding every monologue and instilling this kind of hatred in the American people, someone might act on it?” he asked.

He further delved into whether Kimmel should be held accountable. “Does that exonerate Kimmel? Not really, but did he play a part? It’s unfortunate,” Baldwin stated, admitting uncertainty about those questions.

He contrasted current events with the Hollywood response to the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, referencing an archived video of Johnny Carson’s address at the Academy Awards, which had been postponed after the shooting.

“We’ve never wished harm on anyone,” Baldwin said. “That’s really disturbing to me.” He shared how the entertainment industry’s current hostility has altered his perception of acting, admitting that he used to feel proud. “Now, saying you’re an actor feels different. There’s this lingering negativity,” he added.

Kimmel faced backlash shortly before the shooting for a joke he made, comparing first lady Melania Trump to a “pregnant widow” during a skit. This prompted both Trump and Melania to call for Kimmel’s removal. Kimmel later defended his comment, claiming it was simply a light-hearted joke about Trump’s age and not intended as a call to violence.

“It was not a call to assassination, regardless of how it’s interpreted,” Kimmel insisted. Despite facing repercussions last year for controversial comments regarding Charlie Kirk, he later returned to his show, clarifying that he never intended to trivialize anyone’s death.

As of now, ABC has not commented on the ongoing situation.