First lady Melania Trump ripped into late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Sunday, calling him “a coward” and urging ABC to “take a stand” after his White House Correspondents’ Dinner parody took aim at her and President Donald Trump days before the gala was disrupted by a shooting.
“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country,” the first lady wrote in a statement posted from her official account. “His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.”
The blistering response came after Kimmel mocked the Trumps in a WHCA-themed segment on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that aired Thursday, featuring jokes about the first lady’s marriage and her upcoming birthday.
“Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow,” Kimmel said in the parody.
He also leaned into the long-running media narrative about distance between the president and first lady.
“Oh, by the way, Melania, this is Donald. Donald, this is Melania,” Kimmel said.
Kimmel then cracked another joke imagining how she would spend her April 26 birthday.
“She’s planning to celebrate at home the same way she always does, looking out a window and whispering, ‘What have I done?’” Kimmel said.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, held Saturday in Washington, is the annual gathering hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association to honor journalism and raise money for scholarships. This year’s dinner drew extra attention because Trump attended in person for the first time while in office.
Hey @jimmykimmel, what is funny about this?
Joking is one thing, but wishing death on the President by telling Melania “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow”?
That’s not comedy, that’s dangerous rhetoric.
We’re better than this.
— Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) April 26, 2026
But the night ended in panic when authorities said 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California, rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton armed with multiple weapons and opened fire on an officer.
The officer was struck in a ballistic vest and taken to a hospital, officials said. Agents returned fire and detained Allen, who was also transported for treatment. Trump, Melania Trump and senior administration officials were escorted out by Secret Service as the scene locked down.
In her statement, the first lady framed Kimmel’s segment as part of a wider culture of media hostility, and she pointed a finger directly at his network.
“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”
“A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.”
“Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community.”
Fox News Digital reported it reached out to the White House and ABC for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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