Shooting Follows "Expectant Widow" Joke... The Trumps Slam Jimmy Kimmel

Broadcaster Jimmy Kimmel’s joke about Melania Trump, wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, “looking like an expectant widow,” has become a renewed source of controversy. The debate has reignited after a shooting incident targeting President Trump occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. The Trumps have fiercely condemned Kimmel’s remarks, demanding that he be fired.

Broadcaster Jimmy Kimmel. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

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On April 27 (local time), President Trump stated on his social networking service, Truth Social, “Jimmy Kimmel made truly shocking comments on his show,” adding, “Normally, I wouldn’t respond to what he says, but this time he has gone way too far. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC.”

The reason for President Trump’s strong reaction was Kimmel’s remarks directed at Melania Trump. On the April 23 broadcast of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” Kimmel parodied the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and said, “Our First Lady Melania is here. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”

Subsequently, a shooting occurred at the security checkpoint of the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., the venue for the dinner. Cole Thomas Allen, a California resident, fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at the security checkpoint and attempted to breach security before being subdued at the scene.

After the incident, Melania Trump posted on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing, “Kimmel’s hateful and violent language is intended to divide our country,” and added, “His monologue about my family is not comedy. His words are harmful and only deepen the political sickness within America.”

She continued, “People like Kimmel should not be given the opportunity to come into our homes every evening and spread hate,” and emphasized, “It is time for ABC to take a clear stand. How long will ABC executives tolerate Kimmel’s terrible actions at the expense of our community?” Effectively, she called on ABC, the network airing the show, to suspend the talk show.

Meanwhile, the suspect Allen, who carried out the shooting, has been indicted on charges including attempted assassination of the president. If found guilty, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life imprisonment. The New York Post reported that while Allen did not directly mention President Trump’s name in his statement, the contents suggested an intent to assassinate Trump.

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