Trumps demand ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel over controversial joke

On April 23, 2026, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel sparked a major controversy during a parody segment of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

Kimmel joked that First Lady Melania Trump had 'a glow like an expectant widow.'

By April 27, President Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly demanded that ABC and Disney fire the host.

Melania Trump denounced the comment as 'hateful and violent rhetoric,' while the President labeled it a 'despicable call to violence.'

The tension was amplified by a security incident that occurred at the Washington Hilton on April 25, where an armed man breached a checkpoint during the actual dinner, leading to a clash with Secret Service agents.

While Kimmel has faced similar pressure before—including a brief suspension in 2025—his supporters and free speech advocates argue that his routine, however provocative, falls under protected comedy.

The dispute highlights the ongoing, hostile relationship between the President and the late-night host in a deeply divided American political landscape.