A late-night comedy segment took aim at the White House just days before a real-life emergency would rattle the very event being joked about.
According to Fox News, during a parody tied to the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Jimmy Kimmel delivered a string of jokes targeting President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, drawing attention for remarks about their relationship.
“Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow,” Kimmel said in his parody.
The annual dinner, organized by the White House Correspondents’ Association, is traditionally held to celebrate journalism and raise scholarship funds.
This year’s gathering in Washington, D.C., drew added attention because Trump attended in person.
Kimmel’s routine leaned heavily into portraying the distance between the president and the first lady.
“Oh, by the way, Melania, this is Donald. Donald, this is Melania,” Kimmel said.
He also referenced Melania Trump’s April 26 birthday while continuing the bit.
“She’s planning to celebrate at home the same way she always does, looking out a window and whispering, ‘What have I done?’”
The segment aired shortly before the actual dinner, which was later disrupted by a shooting incident at the Washington Hilton Hotel.
Authorities said a 31-year-old suspect rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the venue and opened fire, striking an agent in a ballistic vest. The agent was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover.
Law enforcement quickly responded, and the suspect was detained after agents returned fire. The individual was also transported for treatment.
Following the gunfire, Trump, the first lady, and other senior administration officials were escorted out of the venue by Secret Service agents as a precaution.
The dinner, typically known for its mix of politics and humor, instead became the scene of a high-security emergency.
