First Lady Melania Trump is calling on ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after comments he made during a parody White House Correspondents’ Dinner skit aired just days before a real-life security scare unfolded at the actual event in Washington.
The controversy centers around a monologue Kimmel delivered on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in which he mocked members of the Trump family during a fake version of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
At one point during the segment, Kimmel joked that Melania Trump looked like she had “a glow like an expectant widow,” a remark that has since sparked backlash from the White House and Trump allies after a gunman later attempted to enter the actual White House Correspondents’ Dinner carrying weapons.
The shooting scare forced President Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other top officials to evacuate the event.
Melania Trump Condemns Kimmel’s Remarks
In a statement released Monday, the first lady accused Kimmel of spreading hateful rhetoric and called on ABC to stop protecting the comedian.
“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country,” Melania Trump said. “His monologue about my family isn’t comedy, his words are corrosive and deepen the political sickness within America.”
She argued that broadcasters should not continue giving platforms to content she described as harmful and divisive.
“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,” she added.
Melania Trump also accused ABC of shielding the late-night host from accountability.
“Enough is enough,” she said. “It is time for ABC to take a stand.”
Trump and White House Join Criticism
President Donald Trump also weighed in, demanding that ABC and Disney immediately remove Kimmel from television.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed the comedian’s comments became especially disturbing after the armed incident at the correspondents’ dinner.
“A day later a lunatic tried entering the ballroom,” Trump wrote, referring to the suspect who allegedly arrived armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives.
“Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC,” the president added.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the criticism during a press briefing, calling the joke “deranged” in light of the security threat.
“Who in their right mind says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?” Leavitt said.
She described the atmosphere during the evacuation as tense and emotional, arguing the comments crossed a line beyond political satire.
What Happened at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner?
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner took place Saturday at the Washington Hilton Hotel.
Authorities later confirmed a suspect attempted to enter the event carrying multiple weapons before being stopped by law enforcement.
Officials have not publicly detailed the suspect’s motive, but the incident immediately intensified debate over political rhetoric, public safety, and threats surrounding political figures.
This year’s correspondents’ dinner notably did not feature a traditional stand-up comedian. Instead, organizers selected mentalist Oz Pearlman as the evening’s featured entertainer, reportedly to avoid the increasingly tense political climate surrounding the event.
Kimmel’s parody segment aired separately on television before the dinner itself took place.
Longstanding Feud Between Trump and Late-Night Hosts
The clash is the latest chapter in Donald Trump’s long-running feud with late-night comedians and television personalities.
Trump has frequently accused hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon of displaying political bias against conservatives and using comedy programs to attack his administration.
In recent months, Trump allies and some conservative media figures have intensified criticism of broadcast networks over political commentary, particularly following several controversial comedy monologues involving the president and his family.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has also explored new regulatory approaches involving broadcast networks accused by conservatives of political targeting or unfair coverage.
Kimmel himself has faced controversy before over comments involving political violence and conservative figures.
Last year, several broadcasting groups temporarily preempted episodes of his show following backlash over remarks connected to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, though the program was later restored.
As of now, ABC and Disney have not publicly responded to demands that Kimmel be removed from the network.
Featured Image from: The White House: www.whitehouse.gov, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons