Jimmy Kimmel Accuses President of Using Their Feud to 'Distract' From the 'Trump-Epstein Files'

President Donald Trump and Jimmy Kimmel have been firing shots at each other over the past week.

It all started after the late-night host made a joke about Melania Trump, saying that she has the glow of an “expectant widow” just days ahead of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner shooting incident.

Following this, in a post on Truth Social, the president urged ABC to fire Kimmel.

During the latest episode of his late-night show, Kimmel not only responded to Trump's Truth Social post, but also called it a way to distract people “from the Trump-Epstein files.”

During the Thursday, April 30, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the TV host responded directly to Trump’s Truth Social post.

He read Trump's post on air, “When is ABC Fake News Network firing seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel, who incompetently presides over one of the Lowest Rated shows on Television? People are angry. It better be soon!!!”

Turning toward the audience, Kimmel then mocked the remark during his monologue.

“If incompetently presiding over not just one of, but the lowest rating in history is the reason I should be fired, we should both be out of a job,” Kimmel said, as a headline about Trump’s declining approval ratings appeared on screen.

He added, “Because you’re not doing too good either.” However, the jab didn't end there.

The talk show host amped up his roasting by accusing the president of using the feud as a distraction.

“And of course, all of this is meant to distract us from the prices he didn’t lower on day one, and from the Trump-Epstein files that his attorney general refuses to release, and to distract us from the illegal war he started and can’t figure out how to get out of,” Kimmel said.

In addition, Kimmel also took a jibe at Trump over the recent indictment of former FBI director James Comey for posting a picture of seashells which formed the number "86 47."

“He also called into Newsmax this afternoon to call me a low life and demand I be fired again. This guy is so mad, you would think I posted a picture of seashells or something. Isn’t there a war dragging on?... Trump has three wars going on right now; Iranians, Ukrainians and comedians,” Kimmel stated.

The present feud between Kimmel and Trump started after the comedian joked about Melania during a faux WHCA dinner segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Kimmel mocked the event and said, “Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”

The remark drew strong backlash and prompted Trump to share a post against Kimmel on Truth Social.

The president said, “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.”

“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,” Trump added, referring to the shooting incident during the WHCA dinner on April 25.

The president concluded his post by saying, “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.”

In addition, Melania condemned Kimmel's joke on X, writing, “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.”

She added, “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.”

Responding to Melania's comments on his show, 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?”

Kimmel was later defended by Hollywood star George Clooney, who, while appearing at the 51st Chaplin Awards Gala in New York, told Variety, “Jimmy's a comedian. I would argue that Karoline Leavitt didn't mean shots should be fired, right? She was making a joke. Fair enough. I look at that side and go, ‘Well, jokes are jokes.’”