Show summary Hide summary
Jimmy Kimmel called Melania Trump an “expectant widow” during a sketch just two days before a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The first lady’s furious response is now drawing widespread anger, with both Melania and President Trump demanding ABC take action against the late-night host.
🔥 Quick Facts
- The Joke: Kimmel said “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow” on his show Thursday
- Timing: The sketch aired two days before Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
- Melania’s Response: Called the remarks “hateful and violent,” urging ABC to “take a stand”
- Trump’s Demand: President demanded Kimmel be “immediately fired by Disney and ABC”
What Jimmy Kimmel Said About Melania Trump
During Thursday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” the host performed a parody of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. In a sketch introducing the first lady, he said “Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.” The sarcastic comment triggered backlash after the real dinner quickly spiraled into chaos.
The mock speech was meant as satirical commentary on the annual journalism event. However, the dark humor would take on haunting implications when a gunman opened fire at the actual event just 48 hours later. Critics say the timing made the joke especially offensive.
Jimmy Kimmel called Melania Trump an expectant widow in skit, drawing anger from Trump
Dylan Carter, ‘The Voice’ Season 24 contestant, dies at 24 in car crash in South Carolina
Melania Trump’s Scathing Response
Melania Trump posted a rare and pointed statement on social media Monday calling the joke “hateful and violent.” She wrote that Kimmel’s monologue about her family “isn’t comedy” and that “his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.” The first lady demanded accountability from the network.
“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,” Melania stated. She directly challenged ABC’s leadership, asking “how many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community?” Her statement marked one of her most forceful public criticisms yet.
Timeline of Events and Controversy
| Date | Event |
| Thursday, April 23 | Kimmel airs mock WHCD sketch with “expectant widow” joke on his show |
| Saturday, April 25 | Actual White House Correspondents’ Dinner; gunman opens fire, Trump evacuated |
| Monday, April 27 | Melania Trump posts response calling remarks “hateful and violent” |
| Monday afternoon | President Trump demands Kimmel’s firing from ABC and Disney |
“His monologue about my family isn’t comedy, his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”
— Melania Trump, First Lady
President Trump Joins the Outcry
President Donald Trump amplified the controversy hours after Melania’s statement. In a post on Truth Social, he called Kimmel’s remarks “far beyond the pale” and claimed they constituted a “call to violence.” Trump expressed appreciation for those “incensed” by the comedian’s words and demanded immediate action.
“Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC,” Trump wrote. The White House Press Secretary also criticized the joke, calling such “rhetoric about the president, the first lady and his supporters completely deranged.” The unified response from both Melania and Trump signals serious pressure on the network.
Is This a Pattern for Kimmel and ABC?
Kimmel was suspended in September for controversial comments about conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s assassination. He said the “Maga gang” was trying to “score political points” from the murder. His show went off air for six days following outcry and FCC pressure before returning with an apology.
This incident raises questions about whether ABC will take action again or face intensifying pressure. The timing issue makes this different from past controversies. The fact that Kimmel’s joke preceded an actual violent incident by just two days amplifies the backlash. How ABC responds will likely shape the conversation around late-night comedy and political rhetoric moving forward.
