Melania demands ABC fire Kimmel over 'expectant widow' joke

First Lady Melania Trump has demanded ABC take a stand against Jimmy Kimmel after the late-night host called her "an expectant widow" in a monologue days before Saturday's shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C. In a statement posted to social media, Melania Trump labeled Kimmel a "coward" whose "hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country." She accused the Disney-owned network of enabling the comedian and called for his removal from the air, writing: "Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand." The controversy arose during Kimmel's Thursday episode, where he delivered a parody monologue satirizing the upcoming White House Correspondents' Dinner. During the segment, Kimmel remarked: "Our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow." Days later, a shooter opened fire at the actual dinner, injuring a Secret Service agent. The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was taken into custody, and investigators believe he intended to target Trump administration officials. Trump supporters have since criticized Kimmel for the timing of his joke. This is not the first time Kimmel has faced backlash. His show was previously suspended for approximately a week in September after making controversial comments about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Following his return to the air, Kimmel stated he never intended to joke about anyone's assassination. Right-wing commentators have since called on ABC and Disney to issue a full apology, with some suggesting the network could face revocation of its broadcasting license over the issue.