A joke by comedian Jimmy Kimmel has triggered a sharp political reaction in the United States, drawing criticism from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
The controversy began after a sketch on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where Kimmel joked that Mrs Trump had a “glow like an expectant widow. ” The remark, delivered as part of a mock performance referencing the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, quickly drew backlash.
Critics, including the president, interpreted the joke as inappropriate and potentially dangerous given the tense political climate. Posting on Truth Social, Trump described the comment as a “despicable call to violence” and demanded that ABC and its parent company Disney take immediate action against the comedian.
“I appreciate that so many people are incensed,” Trump wrote, adding that the remark crossed a serious line.
Melania Trump also spoke out strongly. In a post on X, she accused Kimmel of promoting “hateful and violent rhetoric” and deepening political divisions in the country.
She called him a “coward” and questioned why ABC continues to support him.
“Enough is enough,” she wrote, urging the network to take a stand.
Kimmel, however, rejected the accusations. Addressing the issue during his show’s opening monologue on Monday, he insisted the joke had nothing to do with violence.
“It was a very light roast,” he said, explaining that the comment referred to the age gap between the president and the first lady. He emphasized that it was “not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination. ”
He also responded directly to Melania Trump’s criticism, agreeing in principle that hateful language should be rejected, but suggesting that such concerns should be applied broadly across political discourse.
The comedian went further by airing a clip from 60 Minutes in which Trump criticized journalist Norah O’Donnell, using it to argue that harsh rhetoric is common in political debates.
The incident has once again placed a spotlight on the growing tension between political figures and comedians in the US. Kimmel has been a long-time critic of Trump, often using his platform to challenge the president’s statements and actions.
This is not the first time the comedian has faced backlash. Last year, he was briefly taken off air following controversial remarks about the killing of a Trump supporter, before being reinstated days later after public debate over freedom of speech.
So far, ABC has not issued an official response. The situation now presents an early test for Disney’s new leadership, as questions grow about how media companies should handle politically sensitive comedy.
At the center of the debate is a larger issue: where should the line be drawn between humor and harmful speech in a deeply divided society? For now, both sides remain firm, leaving the public to judge whether the joke crossed that line.
Source: Sky news
