Kimmel Says He Knows The Real Reason Trump Wants Him Fired

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel claimed Thursday that President Donald Trump’s criticism of him is an attempt to distract from what he called the “Trump-Epstein files” and the “illegal war he started” in Iran. 

He can’t imagine it just might have something to do with the tasteless joke he told about Trump’s wife, Melania, having “a glow like an expectant widow,” delivered days before an attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Kimmel dismissed the backlash during his monologue, once again turning his focus on the president. 

“If incompetently presiding over not just one of but the lowest ratings in history is why I should be fired, we should both be out of a job,” Kimmel said, referencing reports of the president having low approval ratings.

“Isn’t there a war dragging on?” the comedian continued, lamenting that the president was speaking about any other topics. “Imagine if FDR had taken to the airwaves during the Battle of the Bulge to complain about a Little Orphan Annie comic strip he didn’t like? Trump has three wars going on right now: Iranians, Ukrainians, and comedians.”

The back-and-forth between Kimmel and conservatives has intensified since the assassination attempt last weekend. Critics have suggested that similar remarks targeting a Democratic president and first lady would have drawn significantly stronger backlash. 

First lady Melania Trump did not mince words in a scathing X post she shared Monday morning.

“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country,” she wrote. “His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”

“A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him. Enough is enough.  It is time for ABC to take a stand,” the first lady added. “How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community.”

Kimmel has not issued an apology for the comments, and ABC has not announced any disciplinary action.