Kimmel defends 'expectant widow' sketch, denies it was a call for violence

Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show, responded on Monday to demands from first lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump that he be fired for his "expectant widow" comment.

In a sketch last week that was a parody of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Kimmel referred to Melania Trump as an "expectant widow." Following the shooting on Saturday, the first lady demanded Kimmel be fired for what she said was a call for violence. The president later joined his wife in the demand, posting on Truth Social, "Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC."

Kimmel on Monday night joked about the controversy in his opening monologue and went on to say that the joke was about Trump's age and not a call for the president to be assassinated, according to the Washington Post. President Trump is 79 and his wife turned 56 on Sunday. 

Kimmel also claimed the president and his wife know the sketch wasn't a call for violence and noted that he's been "very vocal" in his opposition to gun violence. 

One of Kimmel's scheduled guests for Monday night, mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was set to perform magic tricks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, canceled his appearance on the show following the shooting and the Trumps’ outrage.  

ABC and corporate parent the Walt Disney Company suspended the production of Kimmel's show for six days in September 2025 following public criticism and pressure from Trump administration officials over a Kimmel monologue about the reaction to the assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.