Melania Trump has strongly criticised Jimmy Kimmel after the late-night host referred to her husband, President Donald Trump, as a "delicate snowflake" during a parody of the All-American White House Correspondents' Dinner. The First Lady described Kimmel's remarks as "hateful and violent rhetoric" and branded him a "coward."
Background to the Controversy
Kimmel hosted an alternative version of the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner on 23 April, after President Trump opted to have a mentalist perform at the official gala. During his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the comedian mocked the president, referring to him as "a delicate snowflake with the thinnest fat skin of any human being." He also made jokes about the Epstein Files and the First Lady herself.
Melania Trump's Response
Following the broadcast, Melania Trump took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her outrage. She wrote: "Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy—his words are corrosive and deepen the political sickness within America." She added that people like Kimmel "shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate" and called him a "coward" hiding behind ABC, urging the network to "take a stand."
Kimmel's Monologue Highlights
Kimmel's monologue included jabs at Trump's decision to rename the Kennedy Centre after himself and his involvement with the All-American Super Bowl halftime show. He also referenced the heavily redacted Epstein Files, saying: "I haven't seen this much black since every page of the Trump Epstein Files." The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by Trump in November 2025, required the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, but many pages were censored.
Kimmel continued: "If we bruise your ego, it will only make your hands look less disgusting," and joked about Trump's Easter photo depicting himself as Jesus. He also made remarks about Melania, calling her the "star of the first motionless picture" and referencing her documentary's low Rotten Tomatoes score.
Previous Controversies
This is not the first time ABC has faced pressure to remove Kimmel from the air. In September, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended after comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr demanded the network take action, and the show was briefly pulled before being reinstated.
