late night host Jimmy Kimmel’s Minutes after the show aired, comments about first lady Melania Trump sparked backlash. On Monday, however, the backlash became more apparent after the first lady took to social media to target Kimmel’s comments and urged his employer, ABC, to “take a stand.”
Kimmel, at Jimmy Kimmel Live!said Melania Trump “glowed like an expecting widow.” His comments were in reference to the first lady’s multiple televised appearances at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“Our first lady Melania is here. Look at Melania, how beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you are radiant like a widow on the way,” Kimmel said.
When responding to comments, Melania “Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is designed to divide our country. His monologue about my family was not comedy — his words were corrosive and deepened the political pathology within the United States,” he wrote on Monday.
“Kimmel is a coward hiding behind ABC because he knows the broadcasters will continue to cover to protect him,” she continued. Enough is enough. It’s time for the ABC to take a stand. How many times would ABC leadership condone Kimmel’s brutal behavior at the expense of our community? “
MAGA slams Jimmy Kimmel
As Melania Trump urges ABC to “take a stand” against Jimmy Kimmel, MAGA social media has erupted with calls for the late-night host to be replaced. Prominent figures on social media have made hundreds of posts calling for Kimmel to be fired.
One user wrote: “ABC Network, millions of people in this country, those of us who are not insane and simply do not believe that people deserve to be assassinated, regardless of party, hope you will take the First Lady’s words to heart. Fire Jimmy Kimmel for good and correct your own paths.”
“Disney/ABC allows Kimmel to wish Trump dead but will cancel anyone’s statements about liberals for sheer hypocrisy. Fire Jimmy Kimmel now. Where is the responsibility?” said another.
Another said: “ABC needs to fire Jimmy Kimmel for his comments about Melania Trump and the President of the United States. Such depraved comments have no place on American television. Fire anyone who alludes to the President’s assassination.”
“Why does Disney Studios keep letting Jimmy Kimmel incite violence. You did it with the assassination of Charlie Kirk and Jimmy Kimmel’s comments. Now, it’s President Trump again. It’s time to fire this provocateur,” one added.
“ABC hates America! Hates Jimmy Kimmel on fire. If you don’t, you are complicit in political hatred,” one wrote.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Kimmel has faced backlash for his comments. Jimmy Kimmel Live! Following a brief hiatus from ABC and September 2025 disney The show was suspended due to his comments about the alleged assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the subsequent political backlash.
During his Sept. 15, 2025 monologue, Kimmel criticized the way some conservatives and supporters of then-President Donald Trump framed Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer, suggesting the “MAGA gang” was trying to distance themselves from the shooter while also exploiting the tragedy for political gain.
