US President Donald Trump has called for late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired after a joke about First Lady Melania Trump. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump criticised Kimmel for remarks made during a sketch on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! where he quipped that Melania had a "glow like an expectant widow".
Trump's demand for action
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said: "Wow, Jimmy Kimmel, who is in no way funny as attested to by his terrible Television Ratings, made a statement on his Show that is really shocking. A day later a lunatic tried entering the ballroom of the White House Correspondents Dinner, loaded up with a shotgun, handgun, and many knives. He was there for a very obvious and sinister reason."
Trump continued: "I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel's despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC."
Melania's response
Earlier on Monday, Melania Trump posted on X, calling Kimmel a "coward" and urging ABC to "take a stand". 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. People like Kimmel shouldn't have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate. A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him. Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC's leadership enable Kimmel's atrocious behaviour at the expense of our community?"
Context of the controversy
The joke aired days before a gunman attempted to storm the White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday night. Trump's post came just minutes before the King and Queen landed in Washington for a four-day state visit, overshadowed by the assassination attempt on the president.
This is not the first time Kimmel has faced backlash. In September, he was suspended indefinitely after comments about the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, but returned five days later following public outcry over free speech concerns.
ABC and Kimmel have been contacted for comment.
