US First Lady Melania Trump has called on ABC to take action against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a controversial joke made days before a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel had referred to Melania as an “expectant widow” during a monologue aired ahead of the event. The remark resurfaced after a gunman opened fire at the dinner venue in Washington, prompting backlash.
In a post on X, Melania Trump described the comment as “hateful and violent,” and urged the network to intervene.
“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,His monologue about my family isn’t comedy his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.”
The First Lady also questioned the network’s response. “How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community.”
US President Donald Trump also reacted, calling the remarks dangerous.
“This is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC,” he wrote on Truth Social.
The shooting occurred at the Washington Hilton during Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Trump, Melania and senior officials were evacuated from the venue.
Authorities said the suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, forced his way past a security point before he was stopped by agents. He has since been charged with attempting to assassinate the president and with firearms offences.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also criticised Kimmel’s remarks, stating. “This kind of rhetoric about the president, the first lady and his supporters is completely deranged.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
