Trumps call for Jimmy Kimmel to be sacked after Melania joke

Donald and Melania Trump have called for Jimmy Kimmel to be sacked after the late-night talk show host made a joke about the first lady.

Just days before the shooting at the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) dinner in Washington, Kimmel did the sketch about the event on his programme Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

He joked Mrs Trump had a "glow like an expectant widow".

There was no indication Kimmel was referring to violence in the sketch.

Reacting on Truth Social, the US president said Disney and ABC should immediately sack the comedian, who was briefly taken off-air last year over comments about the killing of Trump supporter Charlie Kirk.

Mr Trump wrote: "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 first lady reiterated her husband's post on X, where she said Kimmel's "hateful and violent rhetoric" intends to divide the US.

"His monologue about my family isn't comedy - his words are corrosive and deepen the political sickness within America.

"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.

"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."

What did the sketch actually show?

The sketch depicted Kimmel in a tuxedo, standing behind a podium pretending to deliver a comic routine for the WHCA dinner with "cutaways" to the Trumps.

"Our first lady, Melania, is here. So beautiful. Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow," he joked.

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Kimmel has long targeted Trump in his comedy and is no fan of the president. He came close to tears following the Republican's 2024 election win, describing it as a "terrible night".

His suspension for comments about the assassination of right-wing influencer Kirk in September was met with criticism towards the administration for infringing on freedom of speech, leading to Kimmel's reinstatement five days later.

On his return, Kimmel said it was "never my intention to make light of" Kirk's death, adding that he didn't think there was anything funny about it.

(c) Sky News 2026: Trumps call for Jimmy Kimmel to be sacked after Melania joke