Trump Wants Kimmel Fired Over ‘Despicable’ Assassination Comment

President Donald Trump on Monday called on ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, accusing the comedian of making a “despicable call to violence” after joking about first lady Melania Trump becoming a widow.

Trump took to Truth Social to respond to Kimmel’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner bit, which the late-night host used to mock the president, first lady, and administration officials. In his bit, which Kimmel delivered at his fake White House Correspondents’ Dinner two days before the real event, the comedian pretended to address Melania Trump in the audience, saying, “You have a glow like an expectant widow.”

Trump said on Monday that Kimmel should be “immediately fired.”

“Wow, Jimmy Kimmel, who is in no way funny as attested to by his terrible Television Ratings, made a statement on his Show that is really shocking,” Trump wrote. “He showed a fake video of the First Lady, Melania, and our son, Barron, like they were actually sitting in his studio, listening to him speak, which they weren’t, and never would be. He then stated, ‘Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.'”

Trump argued the joke crossed a line, pointing to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that followed days later on Saturday.

“A day later a lunatic tried entering the ballroom of the White House Correspondents Dinner, loaded up with a shotgun, handgun, and many knives. He was there for a very obvious and sinister reason,” Trump added. “I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale.”

Two days after Kimmel joked about Melania Trump becoming a widow, a gunman charged past security at the White House Correspondents’ dinner with intentions of targeting the president and top administration officials, authorities said. According to officials, the suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was neutralized by Secret Service agents before he was able to breach the ballroom. In his manifesto, Allen referred to Trump as a “pedophile, rapist, and traitor.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also condemned Kimmel during a White House briefing on Monday.

“Who in their right mind says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?” Leavitt asked. “This kind of rhetoric about the president, the first lady, and his supporters is completely deranged and it’s unbelievable that the American people are consuming it night after night after night.”  

Earlier in the day, the first lady responded to Kimmel’s monologue, saying his “hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country.”

“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,” Melania Trump added.

It’s not the first time that Kimmel has gotten into hot water with Trump over a comment he made regarding political violence. Kimmel was suspended last year after saying that the assassin who killed conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was a Trump supporter. Kimmel was suspended by ABC for a week after the remark, and Trump was incensed when the network allowed the late-night host to return.