Melania Trump blasts Jimmy Kimmel for ‘hateful rhetoric’ after he joked about her looking like a widow
Amid the latest assassination attempt on her husband, Melania Trump has condemned comedian Jimmy Kimmel for claiming she was looking like a “widow”.
Melania Trump has condemned comedian Jimmy Kimmel for claiming she looked like a “widow” days before the latest assassination attempt on her husband Donald Trump.
The US First Lady, 56, hit out on Monday (27.04.26) after the comic’s remarks about her sparked backlash before the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday (25.04.26), calling his comments “hateful and violent rhetoric”.
Melania issued a statement on X following criticism of Jimmy, 58, host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC, whose parody monologue about the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner drew huge scrutiny online.
The dinner, held at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., was attended by senior political figures including Donald Trump, 79, alongside cabinet members such as Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio, as well as Melania.
The event was disrupted by gunfire on Saturday evening, with authorities later identifying the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, who has now been charged with attempting to assassinate Trump after a court hearing on Monday.
Responding to Jimmy’s remarks, Melania fumed: “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.”
She continued: “People like Kimmel shouldn't have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”
Melania added: “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 behavior at the expense of our community.”
The comments followed Jimmy’s parody of the dinner broadcast, in which he referenced Melania’s appearance and upcoming birthday.
During the segment, he said: “Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”
He added: “You know, Melania's birthday is on Sunday. She's planning to celebrate at home the same way she always does, looking out a window and whispering, ‘What have I done?’”
The segment prompted criticism online, including from Larry O'Connor, who wrote on X: “@disney, you have a problem,” referring to ABC’s parent company, The Walt Disney Company.
The parody aired days before the disruption at the Correspondents’ Dinner, where guests were forced to take cover after what officials described as “loud noises” prompted a security response.
Secret Service agents moved swiftly to secure the ballroom as attendees, including journalists and other public figures, took shelter after Trump was rushed out.
The location carries historical significance as the site of the Attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan, when Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
Following the incident, Trump addressed the US, saying: “When you're impactful, they go after you. They seem to think he was a lone wolf. We're not going to let anybody take over our society.”
He added: “I just spoke to the officer and he's doing great,” after confirming a Secret Service agent had been shot at close range but was protected by a bullet-resistant vest.
The White House has said the Correspondents’ Dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days.
