President Donald Trump wants ABC to fire late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel after he referred to the first lady as “an expectant widow.”
Kimmel’s joke was aired Thursday during an episode of his show. Two days later, a gunman tried to storm the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in an attack authorities said targeted the president and other top administration officials.
Trump took to Truth Social Monday afternoon to air his discontent.
“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,” Trump wrote. “He showed a fake video of the First Lady, Melania, and our son, Barron, like they were actually sitting in his studio, listening to him speak, which they weren’t, and never would be.”
“He then stated, ‘Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.’ 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.”
“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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote.
Earlier Monday, Melania Trump called Kimmel’s joke “hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country.”
She added, “Enough is enough,” and called on Disney and ABC to take him off the air.
Kimmel was briefly suspended last fall after pressure from Trump administration officials.
That came over jokes he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He later apologized and was reinstated.
