U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the immediate termination of Jimmy Kimmel from ABC and its parent company, Walt Disney. This demand comes after Kimmel made a controversial monologue that preceded a shooting incident near a gathering of journalists and politicians over the weekend.
During a segment last Thursday that mocked the upcoming White House correspondents’ dinner, Kimmel remarked that Melania Trump had a demeanor resembling that of an expectant widow. Two days later, a shooting occurred in the lobby of the Washington Hilton where the dinner was being held, prompting Trump and his wife to be escorted out.
The suspect, identified as Cole Allen, breached a checkpoint and fired at Secret Service agents before being apprehended. Following the incident, Trump and Melania expressed their disapproval of Kimmel’s joke, with Melania labeling it as “corrosive” and Trump demanding Kimmel’s immediate dismissal.
Kimmel defended his monologue as a light-hearted jest about the age difference between the Trumps and clarified it was not intended as a call for violence. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated early reviews of Disney’s licenses in response to the controversy, despite their scheduled renewal not being due until October 2028.
Disney has affirmed its commitment to compliance with FCC regulations and serving local communities with reliable news and programming. Meanwhile, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz criticized the FCC’s involvement in the matter, emphasizing the importance of upholding free speech rights.
The situation escalated further when Trump pressured Disney’s CEO to fire Kimmel. However, the FCC’s Democratic commissioner, Anna Gomez, dismissed the move as an unlawful political maneuver that undermines the First Amendment.
The controversy surrounding Kimmel is reminiscent of a previous incident where a separate broadcaster faced backlash for airing content critical of Trump. Despite the tensions, Kimmel’s show was eventually reinstated after significant public and industry scrutiny.