Politics

First Lady Condemns Jimmy Kimmel ‘Trump Assassination’ Joke

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First Lady Melania Trump blasted late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel on Monday after he joked about her being an “expectant widow.”

Kimmel said that Melania had “the glow of an expectant widow” during a Thursday segment of his show parodying the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Melania stated that ABC should “take a stand” against Kimmel for his joke, stating that the comedian’s rhetoric was “hateful and violent.”

“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country,” Melania wrote on X. “His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”

“A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him. Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand,” the first lady continued. “How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community.” 

Kimmel also mocked President Donald Trump’s marriage to his wife during the parody event on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

“Our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow. Oh, by the way, Melania, this is Donald. Donald, this is Melania,” Kimmel said.

Trump responded to Kimmel’s jab at his wife in a Monday post to Truth Social.

“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. 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,” the president wrote in the post.

Trump then singled out Kimmel’s “expectant widow” remark.

“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,” he wrote. “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.”

Two days after Kimmel’s joke, an attempted assassin opened fire inside the Washington Hilton, where the annual prestigious dinner was being held. The alleged assassin was identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen, who is currently in custody. Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other administration officials were immediately escorted from the event.

Authorities charged Allen with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect Trump’s Truth Social post on the matter, which he had sent after publication.