Tensions flared this week after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly called for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired by ABC and its parent company The Walt Disney Company. His remarks echoed criticism from First Lady Melania Trump over a joke Kimmel made days before a shooting incident tied to a high-profile political gathering.
During a segment last Thursday parodying the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Kimmel said that Melania Trump “had a glow like an expectant widow.” The comment drew sharp backlash following a tense weekend.
According to CBC, the president and first lady had to be rushed out of the event on Saturday after a shooting broke out in the lobby of the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was being held. A suspect identified as Cole Allen reportedly pushed past a checkpoint and opened fire on Secret Service agents, injuring one before being restrained and arrested.
Trump has often taken aim at media outlets and programs he views as unfair or overly critical, frequently calling for action against them. However, legal experts point out that broadcasters are protected under the First Amendment, allowing them to air satire and commentary—even if some find it offensive.
This isn’t the first time tensions have run high between Trump and Kimmel. Last year, Kimmel faced backlash over remarks about a separate shooting incident. In his September 15 monologue, he said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend, with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and with everything they can, to score political points from it.”
The following day, Brendan Carr criticized Kimmel’s comments as “appearing to directly mislead the American public” about the suspect’s political leanings. He also warned that stations airing the show could face penalties, suggesting regulators had options to act.
Soon after, major broadcasters like Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group—which together control a large share of ABC affiliates—stopped airing Kimmel’s show. Sinclair even issued a statement thanking Carr for his stance. In response, ABC temporarily pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its lineup, though the decision was reversed about a week later following discussions between Kimmel and Disney.
The move sparked widespread backlash. Celebrities including Tom Hanks, Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Aniston, Billie Eilish and Ben Stiller signed a letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union, calling the show’s removal a “dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
Former president Barack Obama also weighed in, writing that the administration had reached a “new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.” Protests followed outside ABC and Disney offices, while Senator Elizabeth Warren described the regulator’s comments as federal interference. She also drew comparisons to Stephen Colbert losing his late-night show on CBS, shortly after criticizing a legal settlement involving Trump—though Paramount said that decision was purely financial.
Despite the controversy, Kimmel’s return episode drew strong numbers, with 6.26 million broadcast viewers—even though it didn’t air in nearly a quarter of U.S. households. His opening monologue also racked up more than 20 million views on YouTube, setting a personal record.
In that comeback episode, Kimmel addressed the situation, saying his earlier remarks, to some, “felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both.”
Shortly before the episode aired, Trump suggested on his Truth Social platform that he might take legal action against ABC over bringing Kimmel back. “Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 million,” he wrote, referring to a previous settlement tied to a defamation case. “This one sounds even more lucrative.”
The latest controversy reignited tensions on Monday, with Melania Trump calling Kimmel’s remarks “corrosive.” In a post on X, she said, “Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behaviour at the expense of our community. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”
She added, “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 deepens the political sickness within America.” The president, meanwhile, doubled down on his criticism, saying the joke was “something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC.”
Media professional and journalist based in British Columbia, Canada. Founder of Studiox Film & TV Corporation, focusing on multicultural news, interviews, and community storytelling across Canada.
