Full Breakdown
Melania and Donald Trump demand ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel after “expectant widow” joke precedes WHCD shooting
4/28/2026, 12:30:45 AM
The joke, the shooting, and the call for a firing
On Thursday, April 23 2026, Jimmy Kimmel aired a parody White House Correspondents’ Dinner monologue on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* that said, “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.” Two days later, a gunman opened fire at the Washington Hilton dinner, wounding a Secret Service agent. On Monday, April 27, First Lady Melania Trump posted on X that Kimmel’s remarks were “hateful and violent rhetoric” and urged Disney-owned ABC to fire him; President Donald Trump echoed the call on Truth Social.
Prior tensions between the Trump administration and Kimmel
The Trump administration has previously targeted Kimmel. In September 2025, after Kimmel linked the killing of activist Charlie Kirk to “the MAGA gang,” FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC, prompting a week-long suspension of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* The show later resumed.
Timeline of key dates
- April 23 2026 – Kimmel’s “expectant widow” joke airs.
- April 25 2026 – Gunman opens fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner; suspect Cole Tomas Allen arrested.
- April 27 2026 – Melania Trump’s X statement; Donald Trump’s Truth Social post; Karoline Leavitt’s press briefing.
- April 27-28 2026 – Kimmel issues a brief apology; ABC declines comment.
Official statements & responses
Melania Trump called Kimmel’s monologue “corrosive” and demanded ABC act. President Trump described the joke as “far beyond the pale” and asked Disney to fire the host. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled the remarks “deranged.” Kimmel later said his joke was ill-timed and expressed regret. ABC offered no comment.
Criticism, opposition, and the free-speech debate
Commentators and some public figures defended Kimmel, warning that calls to fire a comedian risk a “wild free-speech pivot.” Former *View* co-host Meghan McCain labeled Kimmel’s humor hateful, while others argued the demand amounted to censorship.
Verbatim quotes
- “Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country.” — Melania Trump, First Lady
- “Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC.” — Donald Trump, President
- “Who in their right mind says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?” — Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary
- “I get why you’re upset. My joke was ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both.” — Jimmy Kimmel, talk-show host
- “I am so deeply sick of Jimmy Kimmel and the hate he spreads in the world.” — Meghan McCain, former *View* co-host
Conflicting reports & gaps
Sources differ on the shooter’s full name, listing him as “Cole Allen” or “Cole Tomas Allen.” Some accounts mention a manifesto; others do not. ABC and Kimmel have not provided an official comment, leaving the network’s response uncertain.
What’s next
ABC is expected to issue a formal response in the coming days, and the FCC may review its prior actions after the 2025 and 2026 controversies. Kimmel’s show remains on the air, while the broader debate over comedic satire and political rhetoric continues to shape public discourse.
