Melania Trump Urges ABC to Cancel Jimmy Kimmel After Controversial “Expectant Widow” Joke
The first lady called out the comedian after yet another apparent Trump assassination attempt.
Melania Trump is calling on ABC to take action against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following remarks she describes as harmful and divisive, made just days before a reported assassination attempt targeting members of her husband’s administration.
In a statement posted Monday on X, the first lady condemned comments delivered during a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where Kimmel joked about her appearance in a mock monologue imagining himself as host of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“Look at Melania, so beautiful,” Kimmel said during the segment. “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”
The remark has since drawn backlash, particularly in light of a shooting incident connected to the Correspondents’ Dinner weekend. Authorities arrested a suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, after gunfire erupted at the hotel hosting the event. According to Attorney General Todd Blanche, investigators believe the suspect may have been targeting individuals tied to Donald Trump’s administration.
Melania Trump responded forcefully, accusing Kimmel of contributing to a toxic political environment.
“Jimmy Kimmel’s rhetoric is not comedy—it is damaging,” she wrote. “It fuels division and deepens the political unrest in our country. Individuals like Kimmel should not be given a platform to enter American homes each night and spread this kind of messaging.”
She went further, criticizing ABC for continuing to support the host.
“He hides behind the network, knowing they will protect him,” she added. “How many times will ABC allow this behavior to continue? It is time for the network to take responsibility and make a clear stand.”
The controversy follows a previous incident in which ABC temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after pressure from Trump-aligned officials over another controversial joke. Upon returning, Kimmel acknowledged that his comments may have missed the mark, stating they were “ill-timed or unclear.”
Supporters of the comedian argue that the “expectant widow” line was intended as satire, possibly referencing Donald Trump’s age or public image rather than suggesting violence. They also note that the timing of the joke—prior to the weekend’s events—means Kimmel could not have anticipated the shooting incident.
Critics, however, contend that given the heightened security concerns surrounding the president and past threats against him, such remarks carry added weight and risk being interpreted in harmful ways.
The recent incident marks the third known breach involving an armed individual attempting to get close to Donald Trump during his current term. Previous cases include a 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman opened fire and injured the president, as well as another suspect spotted with a weapon at a golf event later that year. Officials have also cited additional disrupted plots, including alleged foreign-backed threats.
As of now, neither ABC nor representatives for Jimmy Kimmel have issued an official response to the latest controversy.
Melania needs to get a life. Perhaps all the cosmetic surgeries also removed her sense of humour. It wasn't Jimmy that set this farce of "attempt" in motion.
😂😂😂😂😂😂 ahhhhhhhhh, poor baby ! Damn you people are thin skinned.