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Jimmy Kimmel addressed the stir caused by his “gentle ribbing” at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner during his monologue on Monday night.
The late-night host recounted waking up to a call for his dismissal issued by Melania Trump, following his quip that she had the “glow of an expectant widow.” This remark, Kimmel explained to his “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” audience, was intended to humorously highlight the age gap between Melania and former President Donald Trump.
At 58, Kimmel noted that Melania, at 56, is younger than him, while Donald is nearing 80. He emphasized that the joke was not a serious comment or a suggestion of harm but a playful commentary on the couple’s dynamic.
Kimmel, a vocal advocate against gun violence, reassured viewers that his intent was purely comedic. “I realize that the first lady might have had a stressful weekend, something that might be a common occurrence in their household,” he added.
He added, “It was not by any stretch a call to assassination and they know that I’ve been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence in particular. But I understand the first lady had a stressful weekend, and probably every weekend is stressful in that house.
“Also, I agree hateful and violent is something we should reject,” Kimmel continued. “I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it.”
After defending his right to free speech, Kimmel addressed Melania directly.
“I am sorry that you and the president and everyone in that room on Saturday went through that,” he continued of this weekend’s incident. “I really am.”
Kimmel noted, “Just because no one got killed doesn’t meant it wasn’t traumatic and scary. And we should come together and be best. We really should.”
The late-night host pointed out that his jokes about the WHCD took place before suspected gunman Cole Tomas Allen opened fire at the Washington Hilton.
An officer, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was shot before Allen was apprehended — and the 31-year-old California teacher has since been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
Melania subsequently tweeted that “enough is enough,” writing, “It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community.”
Donald, for his part, declared via Truth Social that Kimmel should be “immediately fired by Disney and ABC.”
Kimmel, however, said on Monday, “If you want us to believe that a joke I made three days before this dinner had any effect on anything that happened, well maybe you should look into this psychic lady, too.”
He went on to show a clip of press secretary Karoline Leavitt claiming “some shots [would be] fired in the room” while teasing Donald’s speech.
Kimmel called the scandal “déjà vu,” referencing his show being pulled from air in September 2025 over his comments on Charlie Kirk’s death.
Three months after the shocking suspension, ABC offered Kimmel a one-year contract extension.
He joked in December 2025 that he will be on air until May 2027 “or until the world ends — whichever comes first.”