What To Know
- President Donald Trump called for Jimmy Kimmel’s show to be canceled after the host made a comment about Melanie being a widow.
- Melania Trump publicly condemned Jimmy Kimmel for his political monologues and jokes about her family following the assassination attempt at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
- The incident occurred after shots were fired at the event, marking the third assassination attempt on Donald Trump during his second term, with all key figures unharmed and the alleged shooter apprehended.
UPDATE (4/27/26 at 2:40 p.m. ET) President Donald Trump wants Jimmy Kimmel to be “fired immediately,” after making a comment about Melania being an “expectant widow.”
Posting to TruthSocial hours after his wife, Trump said, “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.”
“He then stated, “Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.” 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,” the president ended.
ORIGINAL POST (4/27/2026 at11:59 a.m. ET):
Standing behind her husband! First lady Melania Trump has blasted Kimmel over his political monologues following the assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. The late-night host has been a fierce critic of the president.
“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,” she wrote on X on April 27.
“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. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community?”
This statement came after shots were fired at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington D.C.. Both Melania and President Trump, as well as Vice President JD Vance, and Trump’s Cabinet members, were unharmed. The alleged shooter was apprehended.
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
This was the third assassination attempt on Trump during his second term.
On April 23, Kimmel made comments about the first lady and Jeffrey Epstein. During his fake WHCA dinner monologue, Kimmel said, “Oh, by the way, before we go any further, Melania, this is Donald. Donald, this is Melania. That was my impression of Jeffrey Epstein.”
He went on to joke, “Our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended in September 2025 due to making comments about Charlie Kirk‘s assassination. The late-night show was brought back just a few weeks later. But, now it seems that Melania wants the host taken off the air for good.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, ABC