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Jimmy Kimmel Defends Melania Trump ‘Widow’ Joke, Rejects White House Criticism
Jimmy Kimmel has rejected criticism from the White House over a joke involving First Lady Melania Trump, insisting it was not intended as a call to violence.
The controversy centres on a skit aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in which Kimmel referred to Melania Trump as having “a glow like an expectant widow” during a White House Correspondents’ Dinner parody.
The First Lady described the remark as “hateful and violent” and urged ABC to take action against the comedian.
Donald Trump also called for Kimmel’s dismissal, saying the joke amounted to a “call to violence” and demanding that ABC and Disney remove him from air.
In his first monologue following a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Kimmel defended the segment.
“It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am,” he said.
He added that the comment was misinterpreted and did not encourage harm.
“It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination and they know that,” he said.
Kimmel also said he has long opposed political violence and called for reduced hostility in public discourse.
Melania Trump, in a post on X, said comedians should not be allowed into American homes if their content spreads what she described as harmful rhetoric.
The dispute has intensified pressure on ABC as political and public scrutiny grows over how broadcasters handle controversial comedy content.
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