‘Despicable Call to Violence’: Trump Demands ABC Fire Jimmy Kimmel Over Melania 'Widow' Joke

Following the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner shooting incident, President Donald Trump has shared his views on a joke made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump.

The joke was made during the April 23 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, days before the shooting incident took place during the WHCA dinner on the night of Saturday, April 25.

As part of his monologue during the show, Kimmel joked about Melania having the glow of an “expectant widow.”

The remark particularly gained traction after the Saturday shooting incident, where a gunman opened fire at the annual Washington, D.C., event.

Following the shooting at the WHCA dinner, Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigators believe that the suspect -- Cole Tomas Allen -- was targeting members of the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, after the incident, the president reacted strongly to the controversial joke made by Kimmel.

Taking to his Truth Social account on Monday, April 27, Trump urged ABC to “immediately fire” Kimmel over his Thursday monologue.

“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,” Trump wrote.

“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 added.

Referring to Kimmel, Trump further wrote, “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,” Trump further added.

Trump's post comes just hours after his wife, Melania, addressed Kimmel's jab on her X account.

Sharply criticizing the late-night host over his recent monologue, the first lady claimed his “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 spread hate,” Melania posted on Monday, April 27.

She continued, “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.”