U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the immediate dismissal of Jimmy Kimmel by ABC and its parent company, Walt Disney. This comes after Kimmel made a controversial remark in a monologue just before a shooting incident near a gathering of journalists and politicians.
In the monologue last Thursday, Kimmel joked about Melania Trump, saying she “had a glow like an expectant widow.” Two days later, the Trumps had to leave a dinner event abruptly due to a shooting incident at the Washington Hilton.
The suspect involved, identified as Cole Allen, fired at Secret Service agents before being apprehended. Following the incident, Trump and his wife expressed their disapproval of Kimmel’s joke. Kimmel defended himself by stating that his joke was not intended as a call to violence.
Melania Trump criticized Kimmel’s remarks as “corrosive” and called on ABC to take action. Trump demanded Kimmel’s immediate firing, alleging the joke crossed a line. The FCC has initiated early reviews of Disney’s licenses, impacting ABC-owned stations.
There has been a history of tensions between Trump and Kimmel, with previous incidents leading to show suspensions and controversies. Despite the backlash, Kimmel’s show returned with high viewership numbers and a one-year contract extension agreed upon with ABC.