Jimmy Kimmel reacts after Melania and Donald Trump called for his dismissal
2026-04-28 10:55:39
TiranaPost
Jimmy Kimmel has reacted to President Donald Trump's criticism of a joke he made about Melania Trump, whom he called a "future widow."
The host made the comment during his evening show, just days before the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
Kimmel called the joke a "light jab," referring to the 23-year age difference between the president and his wife.
"Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, shine as a future widow," he said during Thursday night's skit.
In his first monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the shooting, the comedian said the joke was "a very light-hearted jab at the fact that President Trump is almost 80 years old and she's younger than me."
“It was in no way a call to assassinate and they know that; I have been very vocal for years against gun violence,” he added. “I agree that the rhetoric of hate and violence should be rejected, but I think the place to start is by talking to your spouse.”
After the skit, Melania Trump accused Kimmel of using "hate speech and violence."
“That monologue about my family is not comedy — his words are corrosive and deepen the political divide in America,” she said. “How long will ABC executives tolerate this unacceptable behavior?”
President Donald Trump demanded the moderator's dismissal from the show, bringing back attention to previous clashes between them.
