Jimmy Kimmel has pushed back against criticism from Donald Trump over a joke about First Lady Melania Trump, which sparked controversy days before an alleged assassination attempt targeting the president.
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Trump had called for Kimmel to be fired after the comedian joked during a recent show, referring to Melania as having “a glow like an expectant widow” while imagining himself hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Responding on his program, Kimmel said the remark was “obviously a joke” about the couple’s age difference, noting that Trump is nearing 80 while Melania is significantly younger. He rejected suggestions that the comment implied violence, calling it a “light roast.”
The First Lady also criticized the comedian, urging broadcaster ABC to take action against him.
The White House intensified its response, with communications director Steven Cheung condemning Kimmel for refusing to apologize.
The controversy unfolded amid heightened tensions following a recent attack at a high-profile Washington event, where a suspect has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
Kimmel, a prominent late-night host, has frequently been at the center of debates over free speech and political satire in the United States, particularly in the context of increasingly polarized public discourse.
