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Kimmel has responded after Melania Trump and President Donald Trump criticized a joke he made on his late night show sparking calls for him to be removed from ABC.
He said he was sorry for the fear and disruption linked to the White House Correspondents Dinner incident but insisted he was not apologizing for the joke itself.
Kimmel defended the line about Melania Trump describing it as a light roast about age differences and insisting it was never meant to suggest violence or harm.
After the backlash both Trumps posted statements demanding action from ABC with Melania accusing Kimmel of spreading harmful rhetoric and Donald Trump calling the joke unacceptable.
Kimmel responded by mocking the idea that his words influenced real world events referencing a clip of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and highlighting free speech protections.
He reiterated that comedy should be understood as satire not incitement and said critics were stretching the connection between a joke and a violent incident.
The dispute has added to ongoing political tensions over media with supporters defending Kimmels right to free expression while critics continue to call for accountability.
Kimmel also referenced past controversies involving his show noting earlier suspensions and returns to air and argued that political pressure on comedy remains a recurring issue in the United States.
Kimmel said he understands why the White House was offended, but maintained that the original joke was unrelated to any violent event, and should be viewed in the context of satire and late night political comedy.
He added that calling for dismissal over a comedic remark risks undermining free speech standards that have long shaped broadcast entertainment in the United States.
