Jimmy Kimmel defends Melania 'expectant widow' joke amid Trump's criticism and calls for dismissal

The controversy centres on a joke which featured a mock version of the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Television host Jimmy Kimmel has responded to calls from Donald Trump and Melania Trump for his dismissal following remarks made on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

The controversy centres on a joke delivered during the April 23 episode, which featured a mock version of the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Kimmel referred to the First Lady as having the glow of an “expectant widow”, prompting criticism from the President and his supporters, particularly after a security incident at the real event on April 25.

Addressing the backlash on his programme, Kimmel said, “You know how sometimes you wake up in the morning and the First Lady puts out a statement demanding you be fired from your job? We’ve all been there. Right?” He added that the remark was intended as humour rather than a threat.

“It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am. It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination. And they know that,” Kimmel said. He also reiterated his opposition to violence, stating he has been vocal against gun violence for years.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump criticised Kimmel’s comments and called for action from ABC and Disney. He linked the joke to a reported incident at the Correspondents’ Dinner, where authorities detained a suspect.

President Donald J. Trump Calls on Disney and ABC to Fire Jimmy Kimmel Following His Despicable Call to Violence. pic.twitter.com/W4oxxgBZxv

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 27, 2026

Melania Trump also issued a statement on X, saying, “Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country,” and urged the broadcaster to take action.

Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. 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…

— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 27, 2026

Officials confirmed that the President and other attendees were evacuated from the event after a suspect was apprehended.