Jimmy Kimmel's Controversial Jokes at WHCA Dinner Spark Backlash from Melania Trump

ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is facing backlash for comments he made ahead of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, an event disrupted this weekend when a gunman fired shots in an attempt to bypass security.

On Thursday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel dedicated part of his opening segment to mocking this year’s WHCA dinner. Instead of a comedian, the event featured mentalist Oz Pearlman as the host.

Kimmel explained his approach:

“I thought, ‘Why not take a page from the Kid Rock alternative halftime show and do some of the jokes a comedian might do if our president wasn’t a trembling drama queen who’s scared of comedy?’”

Among his jokes, Kimmel assured then-President Trump that if his ego was bruised by the roast, “it’ll only make your hands look less disgusting.” He also quipped about First Lady Melania Trump, saying,

“Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”

Melania Trump responded to the latter remark on X (formerly Twitter) early Monday, condemning Kimmel’s joke and demanding ABC fire him.

“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy—his words are corrosive and deepen the political sickness within America,” she wrote. “People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”

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.

This is the latest escalation in a months-long feud between Kimmel and the Trump family. The tension peaked last year when outrage from Trump, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, and other conservative figures over Kimmel’s comments about the president’s behavior following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk led to Kimmel’s brief suspension.

As of now, neither Kimmel nor Disney, ABC’s parent company, has publicly responded to Melania Trump’s remarks.