Story perspectives

Trump Demands Disney Fire Kimmel Over Widow Joke

4/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump pressured Disney’s ABC network to fire Jimmy Kimmel after his “expectant widow” joke about First Lady Melania Trump.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump each posted on social media demanding Kimmel’s immediate termination.
New Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro said his team has not responded to the demands, underscoring the dilemma.
Kimmel later apologized for the joke’s timing on his show while reaffirming his anti-gun-violence stance.

History

Historical Context

After Ronald Reagan’s 1987 decision to scrap the FCC’s Fairness Doctrine—a move that followed his 1981 market-oriented shift—the broadcast landscape opened to unchecked criticism. Donald Trump’s 2024 demand that Disney’s ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel echoes that deregulation, showing how presidents can use relaxed rules to pressure media conglomerates and the broader trend of media consolidation since the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump pressured Disney’s ABC network to fire Jimmy Kimmel after his “expectant widow” joke about First Lady Melania Trump.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump each posted on social media demanding Kimmel’s immediate termination.
New Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro said his team has not responded to the demands, underscoring the dilemma.
Kimmel later apologized for the joke’s timing on his show while reaffirming his anti-gun-violence stance.

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