Melania Trump has issued a direct rebuke of a recent joke by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
The First Lady called on ABC to take action after a monologue clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live! resurfaced in the wake of the violence.
During his Thursday broadcast, Kimmel performed a parody of the annual dinner, delivering a mock monologue in which he remarked that Melania Trump had the glow of an “expectant widow.”
The joke began circulating widely on social media after a 31-year-old gunman, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, opened fire at the actual event in Washington, D.C., two days later. Allen was apprehended at the scene, and Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that investigators believe the suspect was specifically targeting members of the Trump administration.
Addressing the situation on X Monday, the First Lady described the late-night host’s comments as “corrosive” and damaging to the national climate.
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“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country,” she wrote. “His monologue about my family isn’t comedy—his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.”
In her statement, she directly challenged the network’s role in broadcasting the comedian’s material, suggesting that the platform provides him a shield for his commentary.
“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.”
READ: “A Sick Guy”: Trump Slams “Anti-Christian” Suspect; Demands Quick Rescheduling Of WHCA Gala
The First Lady concluded her remarks by demanding a response from the broadcaster. “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.”
ABC has not yet released a public response to the First Lady’s comments or the calls for action regarding the segment. Investigation into the shooting at the dinner remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full scope of the suspect’s motives.
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