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First Lady Melania Trump has condemned late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for a joke in which he referred to her as an "expectant widow." The remark aired on Thursday during a parody of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, just two days before a gunman opened fire at the actual event. Describing the comments as "hateful and violent," the First Lady called on ABC to take action against Kimmel for what she termed "atrocious behavior." Authorities believe the Saturday shooting may have targeted members of the Trump administration.
"Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow," Kimmel said.
In a post on X on Monday, Melania Trump said "people like Kimmel shouldn't have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate", and urged ABC to "take a stand".
"His monologue about my family isn't comedy - his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America," she said. "How many times will ABC's leadership enable Kimmel's atrocious behavior at the expense of our community."
President Trump also weighed in on the issue.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday afternoon, Trump said he appreciated that so many were "incensed by Kimmel's" remarks, claiming they were a "call to violence".
"This is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC," he wrote.
Kimmel was taken off air last September after he made comments about the shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
In a monologue, Kimmel said the "Maga gang" - a reference to Trump's followers - was trying to "score political points" from the murder of Kirk. His show was reinstated a week later.
After returning to the show, Kimmel said he accepted that some people felt his remarks about Kirk's death had been "ill-timed or unclear or maybe both", adding: "I get why you're upset."
In the latest incident, a resurfaced clip of Kimmel's Thursday joke sparked backlash on social media after the shooting, with critics accusing the comedian of encouraging political violence. Several conservative social media users called for Kimmel to be taken off air.
