‘Should be fired’: Why the Trumps want Jimmy Kimmel sacked

EXPLAINERNews|Donald Trump‘Should be fired’: Why the Trumps want Jimmy Kimmel sackedMelania Trump criticised Kimmel for spreading ‘hate’ following a joke comparing her with an ‘expectant widow’.ListenListen (6 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoUS President Donald Trump (L) and TV host Jimmy Kimmel [File: AFP]By Al Jazeera Staff and APPublished On 28 Apr 202628 Apr 2026A political and media dispute has erupted involving United States President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel.Melania publicly criticised Kimmel on Monday and urged the TV network ABC to take action against him. The president has gone further, calling for Kimmel to be removed from his role altogether.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Stephen Colbert says CBS pulled interview with Texas Democratic candidatelist 2 of 3US FCC notice to broadcasters prompts concerns on curtailing free speechlist 3 of 3As US public media funds officially dry up, local radio stations struggleend of listThe controversy centres on remarks Kimmel made during a comedy monologue on Thursday in which he said Melania had “a glow like an expectant widow”, with Trump describing the comments as “a despicable call to violence”.Here is what you need to know about the controversy:What did Kimmel say?The dispute began after Kimmel made a joke about the first lady during a segment tied to the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday.At an “alternative” White House correspondents’ dinner on his show, Kimmel said: “Our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”Kimmel also mocked the first lady’s documentary, Melania, which faltered at the box office and was not well-received by critics. “I want to congratulate you, Madam First Lady, on your huge accomplishment – the world’s first motionless picture,” Kimmel said.The controversy comes on the back of a shooting that happened late on Saturday when an armed man tried to enter the hall where Trump, the first lady and other members of the White House were in attendance, alongside hundreds of journalists.Following the incident, the video of Kimmel poking fun at Melania caused outrage from some members of the president’s Republican Party. Advertisement How did the Trumps react?While the joke played on the perception that the first lady often appears unhappy in public, Trump’s supporters linked the line to the shooting.“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate. A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him,” Melania wrote on X.“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?”Her husband did not hold back either in his criticism of the late-night comedian. He went further, calling for his dismissal. “I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale,” the president said on his Truth Social platform.“Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired” by ABC and its parent Walt Disney Co, he added.The White House also chimed in on the controversy. “Who, in their right mind, says a wife would be…

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