After the attacks from Donald Trump last fall, the controversy now also involves his wife Melania, who is taking aim at Jimmy Kimmel. The American president demanded the immediate dismissal of the ABC host on Monday, April 27, after a joke about the First Lady that he deemed “disgusting.”
In his show “Jimmy Kimmel Live” aired last week, the host made a comment about Melania Trump being “radiant like a widow in waiting.” This statement was perceived by Donald Trump as an “incitement to violence.” Trump took to Truth Social to express that “this goes too far. Jimmy Kimmel must be immediately fired by Disney and ABC.”
The sketch in question, broadcast before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 25, took the form of a fake gala. It welcomed guests to the “2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” where the host threw jabs, including the one directed at Melania Trump.
However, two days later, the context changed. Last Saturday, during the same dinner that the presidential couple attended, an assassination attempt on Donald Trump was thwarted. An armed man allegedly tried to enter the venue with the intent to kill the president and other high-ranking officials. After the incident, the sketch is now being reevaluated in light of these events.
Against this backdrop, Melania Trump broke her silence to respond directly to the comedian. She criticized the “hateful and violent rhetoric” aimed at “dividing the country.” Melania stated that Kimmel’s words are corrosive and exacerbate the political illness plaguing America.
In her message, Melania mentioned that “people like Kimmel should not have the opportunity to enter our homes every night to spread hatred.” She accused Kimmel of hiding behind ABC knowing that the network will continue to cover him. Melania urged ABC to take a stand against Kimmel’s behavior.
In his show on Monday, Jimmy Kimmel addressed the First Lady’s remarks, explaining that his joke was not a call to assassination but about their age difference. Kimmel emphasized the need to reject hateful and violent rhetoric, suggesting that Melania should have a conversation with her husband about it.
This is not the first time Jimmy Kimmel has been at the center of a major political controversy. In September 2025, the host was suspended by ABC for comments about the assassination of pro-Trump influencer Charlie Kirk. ABC initially halted “Jimmy Kimmel Live” indefinitely, but eventually reinstated him on air amidst accusations of censorship.
