By Armando Hernandez
Donald Trump demanded this Monday the “immediate firing” of host Jimmy Kimmel, after a parody broadcast on his program that sparked criticism from the White House and the first lady.Melania Trump.
Through his Social Reality network, Trump stated that “Jimmy Kimmel should be fired immediately by Disney and ABC,” considering that the comments made during last Thursday’s broadcast constitute “a despicable call for violence.”
The controversy originated on the program Jimmy Kimmel Live!, broadcast by the ABC network, owned by The Walt Disney Company. In the segment, Kimmel performed a parody imagining his participation as host of the traditional White House Correspondents’ Dinner, in which he joked about the president and his wife.
Among the comments that generated the most rejection was a reference to the first lady: “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like that of an expectant widow,” which Melania Trump described as “rhetoric of hate and violence.”
Continue reading: Shooter at correspondents’ dinner is accused of trying to assassinate Trump Melania Trump accuses host Jimmy Kimmel of “sowing hate” and asks ABC to take a position on the matter How the attacker could have gotten so close to Trump and other questions raised by the shooting at the correspondents’ dinner
The reaction of the White House intensified after the incident that occurred during the valid dinner held on Saturday, when an armed man broke into the resort hosting the event.
Trump directly linked both events in his message: “A day later, a lunatic tried to enter… armed. He was there for a very obvious and sinister reason,” suggesting that the comedian’s comments may have influenced the attack. “This goes far beyond what is acceptable,” he added.
However, Media outlets such as The Unusual York Times and CNN have pointed out in similar situations that there is no direct evidence linking satirical content with acts of violence.stressing that political comedy shows are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
The episode revives previous tensions between Trump and Kimmel. In 2025, ABC temporarily suspended the show after the host’s comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which also sparked criticism from the president and calls for his firing.
So far, neither ABC nor Disney have announced disciplinary measures against Kimmel.. Sources close to the chain, cited by Axios, indicate that the company is evaluating the situation internally, in the midst of a broader debate about the limits of political humor in a context of high polarization in the United States.
Keep reading:
- Correspondents’ Dinner Shooter Accused of Trying to Assassinate Trump
- Melania Trump accuses host Jimmy Kimmel of “sowing hate” and asks ABC to take a position on the matter
- How the attacker could get so close to Trump and other questions raised by the shooting at the dinner correspondents
