Kimmel Defends Joke Amid Backlash from the Trumps
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel addressed his controversial joke about First Lady Melania Trump, which he had made the previous week, comparing her look to that of a “pregnant widow.” This came after both Melania and President Trump urged Disney to terminate his employment in light of the recent assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
In his opening monologue on Monday, Kimmel noted that, “Until this morning, I hadn’t received much backlash, but then I faced another Twitter storm and calls for my firing from the First Lady.” He explained that his comment was about Melania Trump’s appearance and the notable age difference between her and the President.
Kimmel’s ten-minute segment aired shortly before an incident where Cole Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, charged through security and fired at Secret Service agents before being subdued and arrested.
First Lady Melania Trump responded to Kimmel by stating that his “hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country.” She further criticized his commentary as being devoid of humor, arguing that it exacerbates the existing political tensions. “We shouldn’t allow people like Kimmel to enter our homes each night to spread hate,” she added. “It’s enough. ABC needs to take a stand. How many times will they enable Kimmel’s behavior at the expense of our community?”
President Trump also chimed in, expressing appreciation for the outrage directed at Kimmel’s remarks. He stated, “I wouldn’t usually react to Kimmel, but this is outrageous. Jimmy Kimmel should be fired by Disney and ABC immediately.”
In a related note, Cole Allen, who has previously supported Kamala Harris, was indicted for attempting to assassinate President Trump and now faces a series of federal charges.
In December, ABC had announced Kimmel’s contract extension, which ensures he will remain a part of Disney’s late-night lineup at least until May 2027.
