Trump joked about his death, says Jimmy Kimmel amid backlash over Melania 'widow' joke
Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday night's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live': "Only Donald Trump would demand I be fired for making a joke about his old age, and then a day later, go out and make a joke about his own old age." pic.twitter.com/RcOASYav8A
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) April 29, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: Jimmy Kimmel has now reportedly claimed that Donald Trump joked about his death as he faced backlash from the president as well as Melania for his “widow” joke last week.
During the Tuesday, April 28, episode of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, the comedian first played a clip of Trump welcoming King Charles III to Washington, DC.
Trump boasted about parents' decades-long marriage but said he can't make a record with Melania due to his old age
The Republican leader can be heard saying, “My wonderful mother, Mary MacLeod. She came to America at 19, met my incredible father. We loved him so much. We all loved him. We loved her. We loved him, Fred. And they were married for 63 years.”
The 80-year-old Trump then turned towards the First Lady and jokingly added, “And excuse me, if you don’t mind, that’s a record we won’t be able to match, darling. I’m sorry. Just not gonna work out that way.”
Jimmy Kimmel jokes Trump 'should be fired' for joking about his own death
Kimmel immediately commented on his statement as he noted, “Wait a minute – did he just make a joke about his death? My God. He should be fired for that.”
“Only Donald Trump would demand I be fired for making a joke about his old age, and then a day later, go out and make a joke about his own old age!” he added.
Melania and Trump ask ABC News to fire Jimmy Kimmel
This came amid an ongoing spat between the television host and the Trumps.
The issue began when, during Thursday’s episode, Kimmel roasted the commander-in-chief and his administration. At one point, he even quipped, “Our First Lady Melania is here. Look at her, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”
He was slammed for the joke, and the intensity increased following last Saturday’s White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting.
Melania hit back at Kimmel and called him out for his “hateful and violent rhetoric.”
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 deepens the political sickness within America.
— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) April 27, 2026
People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to…
“His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,” she stated.
Calling him a “coward”, the former model added, “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.”
( @realDonaldTrump - Truth Social Post )
— Fan Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) April 27, 2026
( Donald J. Trump - Apr 27 2026, 1:26 PM ET )
Wow, Jimmy Kimmel, who is in no way funny as attested to by his terrible Television Ratings, made a statement on his Show that is really shocking. He showed a fake video of the First Lady,… pic.twitter.com/Ex0fhi9Xy2
Trump also agreed with Melania and, in a Truth Social post, wrote, “Wow, Jimmy Kimmel, who is in no way funny as attested to by his terrible Television Ratings, made a statement on his Show that is really shocking.”
He further added that Kimmel, “This is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC.”
