US President Donald Trump lashed out at late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, calling for him to be "immediately fired" following remarks made on his show ahead of a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump accused Kimmel of making "a statement… that is really shocking" and objected to a segment in which the host used what he described as a "fake video" depicting First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron in the studio audience.
Quoting Kimmel's monologue, Trump highlighted a line in which the host said: "Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow." He added that a day later "a lunatic tried entering the ballroom of the White House Correspondents Dinner, loaded up with a shotgun, handgun, and many knives," and described the incident as having "a very obvious and sinister reason". "I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel's despicable call to violence… this is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC," the President wrote.
The comments followcriticism from Melania,who earlier accused Kimmel of using "hateful and violent rhetoric". In a post on X, she said: "His monologue about my family isn't comedy – his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America."
The remarks come after a shooting incident on Saturday at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC, where an armed man charged a security checkpoint. A US Secret Service agent sustained minor injuries. Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Allen, who has been detained and is expected to face multiple federal charges.
Two days before the event, Kimmel used his programme to deliver a parody monologue about the dinner, during which he made the comments about the First Lady and joked about the couple's marriage.
Melania also criticised broadcaster ABC, which airs Kimmel's programme, accusing it of shielding the host. "A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him," she wrote, adding: "It is time for ABC to take a stand."
Trump and the First Lady were attending the dinner together for the first time since his initial election victory in 2016. During the event, gunshots were heard while Melania was seated at the head table alongside the President and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She appeared visibly shaken and was moved to safety by Secret Service agents.
The couple later reappeared in the White House briefing room, where the president addressed the incident. Melania appeared emotional as he referred to previous threats on his life.
Kimmel has previously faced criticism over comments made on his show. In September 2025, he was briefly taken off air following backlash linked to remarks about the killing of political activist Charlie Kirk. Upon returning, he said: "It was never my intention to make light of a murder of a young man. I don't think there's anything funny about it."
At the time, Trump criticised the decision to reinstate the host, writing: "I can't believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back."
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