U.S. President Donald Trump demanded the immediate dismissal of Jimmy Kimmel by ABC and its parent company Walt Disney, echoing Melania Trump’s criticism of the late-night talk show host. The call for Kimmel’s firing came after he made a controversial joke about Melania Trump resembling an expectant widow during a segment mocking the White House correspondents’ dinner.
The Trumps were hurriedly evacuated from the dinner venue at the Washington Hilton following a shooting incident in the lobby where a suspect named Cole Allen targeted Secret Service agents. Kimmel later addressed the situation during his show, clarifying that his joke was about the couple’s age difference and not intended as a call for violence.
Melania Trump condemned Kimmel’s remarks as “corrosive” and urged ABC to take action against his behavior, stating that his rhetoric only serves to divide the nation. President Trump joined in, insisting that Kimmel should be fired immediately. Kimmel, on the other hand, expressed doubt that his joke influenced the shooting incident.
The controversy surrounding Kimmel is not the first time Trump has clashed with broadcasters over content he disapproves of. The FCC previously intervened when Kimmel’s show was temporarily pulled off the air due to comments made about a conservative activist. Despite the backlash, Kimmel’s show eventually returned with strong viewership numbers.
In the aftermath of the incident, there were protests and debates over free speech and media regulation, with prominent figures like Barack Obama and Elizabeth Warren weighing in on the situation. Despite the tensions, ABC and Kimmel reached a contract extension following the uproar.