Jimmy Kimmel strongly refutes White House demand for his dismissal after 'expectant widow' joke about First Lady
Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel strongly refuted the White House's demand for his dismissal today, after his joke about First Lady Melania Trump having an "expectant widow" glow sparked controversy last week. Kimmel defended his remarks, emphasizing Americans' right to freedom of speech.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 21:14
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Central News Agency (CNA)
(New York, April 27, CNA) US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel today strongly refuted the White House's demand for his dismissal, after his joke last week referring to First Lady Melania Trump as an "expectant widow" sparked controversy. Kimmel defended his statements while emphasizing Americans' right to freedom of speech.
In his opening monologue for today's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Jimmy Kimmel sarcastically said: "You know that feeling? You wake up in the morning and find that the First Lady has issued a statement asking to fire you? We've all been there, right?"
According to CNN, Jimmy Kimmel joked on his April 23 show that First Lady Melania Trump exuded "a glow like an expectant widow." Kimmel explained that this was merely a slight jest at the nearly 80-year-old Trump and a much younger Melania (Trump is 79, Melania is 56).
However, after a shooting incident occurred outside the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner venue on April 25, Trump and his allies re-framed the joke as "inciting violence."
Jimmy Kimmel strongly rebutted on today's show: "This is absolutely not a call for assassination by any definition. They know that. I have publicly opposed gun violence for years."
He then stated, "I agree that hateful and violent speech should be rejected, but I must also point out that Trump has the right to say what he wants, you and I have the right, everyone has the right, because under the First Amendment of the Constitution, Americans have freedom of speech."
Jimmy Kimmel had previously said on his September 2025 show that conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot dead during a speech in Utah, leading to MAGA supporters capitalizing on the shooting for profit. This angered Trump supporters, and under pressure, Disney decided to suspend the show's broadcast. A week later, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" resumed, and Jimmy Kimmel tearfully stated that he had no intention of mocking, emphasizing that suspending the show was illegal.
ABC has not yet responded on how it will handle "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" once again causing controversy with its jokes. (Translator: Liu Shu-chin) 1150428
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(New York, April 27, CNA) US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel today strongly refuted the White House's demand for his dismissal, after his joke last week referring to First Lady Melania Trump as an "expectant widow" sparked controversy. Kimmel defended his statements while emphasizing Americans' right to freedom of speech.
In his opening monologue for today's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Jimmy Kimmel sarcastically said: "You know that feeling? You wake up in the morning and find that the First Lady has issued a statement asking to fire you? We've all been there, right?"
According to CNN, Jimmy Kimmel joked on his April 23 show that First Lady Melania Trump exuded "a glow like an expectant widow." Kimmel explained that this was merely a slight jest at the nearly 80-year-old Trump and a much younger Melania (Trump is 79, Melania is 56).
However, after a shooting incident occurred outside the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner venue on April 25, Trump and his allies re-framed the joke as "inciting violence."
Jimmy Kimmel strongly rebutted on today's show: "This is absolutely not a call for assassination by any definition. They know that. I have publicly opposed gun violence for years."
He then stated, "I agree that hateful and violent speech should be rejected, but I must also point out that Trump has the right to say what he wants, you and I have the right, everyone has the right, because under the First Amendment of the Constitution, Americans have freedom of speech."
Jimmy Kimmel had previously said on his September 2025 show that conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot dead during a speech in Utah, leading to MAGA supporters capitalizing on the shooting for profit. This angered Trump supporters, and under pressure, Disney decided to suspend the show's broadcast. A week later, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" resumed, and Jimmy Kimmel tearfully stated that he had no intention of mocking, emphasizing that suspending the show was illegal.
ABC has not yet responded on how it will handle "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" once again causing controversy with its jokes. (Translator: Liu Shu-chin) 1150428
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First-hand News" app to get the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and audio on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.