Share and Follow
Just hours after Melania Trump criticized Jimmy Kimmel for what she described as his “hateful and violent rhetoric,” former President Donald Trump has joined the conversation, urging ABC to take swift action against the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
The controversy arose from a monologue Kimmel delivered during his Thursday night (April 23) show, in which he parodied the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This year, the event was hosted by mentalist Oz Pearlman, a departure from the traditional comedian host. During the segment, Kimmel quipped that Melania had “a glow like an expectant widow,” a comment that drew the first lady’s ire. This skit aired two nights before the actual White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night (April 25), which was marred by a shooting incident.
President Trump took to TruthSocial to express his disapproval of Kimmel’s remarks. “Wow, Jimmy Kimmel, who is in no way funny as attested 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.’”
Continuing his critique, Trump added, “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! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump continued, “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! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
DECIDER reached out to ABC for comment, but did not hear back by time of publication.
According to Deadline, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt cited the first lady’s post about Kimmel in a press conference on Monday, in which she eventually called out the “completely deranged”rhetoric being used against “the president, the first lady, and his supporters.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs on weeknights at 11:35/10:35c on ABC.