Melania Trump blasts Kimmel’s ‘hateful’ comments, calls on ABC to take action

WASHINGTON, DC: First Lady Melania Trump on Monday, April 27, publicly criticized late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over remarks he made about her and her family during a recent monologue, calling the comments “hateful and violent” and urging ABC to intervene.

The criticism came days after Kimmel joked about the first lady during a parody tied to the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

In a post on X, Melania Trump said Kimmel’s language was harmful and accused the comedian of contributing to political division in the country.

Melania calls Kimmel’s remarks ‘corrosive’ and divisive

The first lady’s criticism centered on Kimmel’s monologue last week, during which he referenced her in a satirical segment and described her as having “a glow like an expectant widow.”

The remark, delivered as part of a parody of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, drew criticism online even before Saturday, April 25, security incident at the Washington Hilton.

In her statement, Melania Trump said the remarks crossed a line and were not comedy. “Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy; his words are corrosive and deepen the political sickness within America,” she wrote.

She also argued that public figures in entertainment carry responsibility for their words and questioned whether such rhetoric should be broadcast nightly into American homes.

“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,” she added.

The comments mark one of the strongest public responses by the first lady against a television host during President Donald Trump’s current term, reflecting ongoing tensions between the Trump family and mainstream media personalities.

Melania urges  ABC as Kimmel backlash grows

In the second part of her statement, Melania Trump directly criticized ABC, accusing the network of shielding Kimmel from accountability. 

“A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him,” she wrote. “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.”

The criticism comes amid broader debate over political rhetoric following Saturday, April 25, shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where authorities say a suspect breached a security checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement. 

President Trump, Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were present at the event but were unharmed. One Secret Service agent sustained minor injuries.

Kimmel’s earlier remarks gained renewed attention after the incident, prompting criticism from political commentators and Trump allies who linked the comedian’s rhetoric to the broader political climate.

ABC has not publicly responded to Melania Trump’s statement or calls for action regarding Kimmel’s program. Kimmel has also not issued any public comment on the controversy.