April 27, (THEWILL) — Melania Trump has criticised Jimmy Kimmel for a joke he made about her, calling it “hateful and violent”.
The joke aired just days before a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 25.
On Thursday, during a skit on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, Kimmel joked, “Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow”.
Melania responded on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, saying, “People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”
She also called his words “corrosive” and said they “deepen the political sickness within America”.
Her comments followed the shooting incident at the dinner, where she and President Trump were evacuated. The gunman was quickly tackled by security before reaching the event.
Melania urged ABC to “take a stand” against Kimmel, writing, “Enough is enough. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behaviour?”
Kimmel’s remarks were part of a skit where he also joked about the Trump administration’s ties to controversial figures like Jeffrey Epstein.
After the shooting, his “expectant widow” comment resurfaced on social media, drawing criticism.
This isn’t the first time Kimmel has faced backlash for jokes about the Trump family.
Melania’s statement is her first public comment on the shooting.
Kimmel was previously suspended in September 2025 by ABC after making controversial remarks about the shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
ABC has not yet responded to Melania’s call for action.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
