'It Was Obviously A Joke': Jimmy Kimmel Hits Back At Trump's Criticism Over 'Widow' Jibe At Melania

Last Updated:April 28, 2026, 15:53 IST

Kimmel said his "expectant widow" remark for Melania, which triggered backlash from Trump and his allies, was a joke about the age difference of the president and his wife.

US comedian Jimmy Kimmel hit back at calls for his sacking by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump after triggering a controversy by referring to the latter as an “expectant widow" two days before a shooting at the White House.

Kimmel sparked a massive row at his show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he said, “Our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow." The comment came under scrutiny after the security breach incident.

Melania lashed out at Kimmel in a rare statement, calling on US broadcaster ABC to “take a stand" against the late-night host over his comments. Donald Trump also said Kimmel should be fired for likening the first lady to an “expectant widow" days before the White House shooting.

However, the late-night host brushed off the criticism and defended the freedom of speech in the US, saying, “You know sometimes you wake up in the morning and the first lady puts out a statement demanding you be fired from your job? We’ve all been there, right? What a day."

Kimmel said the gag was “obviously… a joke about their age difference." Donald Trump is currently 79, while Melania is 56.

READ MORE: Melania Trump Breaks Silence On Jimmy Kimmel’s ‘Expectant Widow’ Jibe Before White House Shooting

‘Light Roast Joke’

“It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am," he said. “It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination, and they know that. I’ve been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence in particular."

His remarks came as a gunman breached the security of the dinner ballroom at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday and opened fire, before he was overpowered and taken into custody. Trump and his allies have recontextualised the joke as a call to violence.

Kimmel also appeared to invite Trump onto his show to discuss “hateful" rhetoric. “I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject. I also should point out Donald Trump is allowed to say whatever he wants to say, as are you and as am I and as are all of us, because under the First Amendment we have as Americans the right to free speech," he added.

There is no indication that Disney is thinking about firing Kimmel, although his remarks is the first major Trump test for Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, who succeeded Bob Iger just six weeks ago. Pro-Trump media outlets and influencers blasted Kimmel online after Saturday, foreshadowing a concerted effort from the Trump administration to push him out.

Kimmel was briefly suspended from his show last September following government pressure after he said Trump’s hard-right MAGA movement was trying to make political capital from the assassination of influencer Charlie Kirk.

News world 'It Was Obviously A Joke': Jimmy Kimmel Hits Back At Trump's Criticism Over 'Widow' Jibe At Melania

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