Melania Trump Breaks Silence On Jimmy Kimmel's 'Expectant Widow' Jibe Before White House Shooting

Last Updated:April 27, 2026, 22:46 IST

Melania Trump called Jimmy Kimmel a "coward" and accused him of spreading hatred after the comedian made a controversial joke aimed at the First Lady.

The White House on Saturday witnessed unprecedented scenes as US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were escorted away due to a firing incident at a dinner. The incident has also brought scrutiny to comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks on Melania Trump.

During his show ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on Thursday, two days before a gunman entered the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and allegedly targeted Trump and other top officials, the comedian made a controversial joke aimed at the US president and his family.

“Our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow," Kimmel said during his monologue. The comment came under scrutiny after the security breach incident.

ALSO READ: ‘Wanted To See…’: Trump On Buzz Over Why JD Vance Was Swept Away First After Shooting At Media Gala

In her first public remarks after the incident, Melania Trump accused Kimmel of spreading hatred, called him a “coward" and urged ABC to take a stand against his “atrocious behaviour."

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

Melania also lashed out at the ABC network for protecting him. “A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him. Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behaviour at the expense of our community?" she added.

This marks another aspect of Kimmel’s troubled relationship with the Trump family. In September 2025, ABC briefly suspended Kimmel’s show after his controversial remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old close ally of Donald Trump, which attracted widespread backlash. It remained off air for several days before eventually returning.

White House Shooting

Chaotic scenes marred the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as a heavily armed gunman carrying a shotgun attempted to breach a security checkpoint and fired at a Secret Service agent before being overpowered and taken into custody.

Secret Service agents acted swiftly, escorting the President and the First Lady out of the venue as panic spread among guests. Dinner attendees stopped talking after the noise echoed through the ballroom, and people were heard screaming, “Get down, get down!"

In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump confirmed that the alleged shooter, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was taken into custody. Allen reportedly sent a manifesto to Trump before the shooting, where he said he planned to attack Trump administration officials to protect those harmed by their policies.

The chaotic events raised fresh questions about the security of top US officials, many of whom were gathered in the hotel’s expansive ballroom. The suspect will be charged in federal court on Monday with assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm and attempting to kill a federal officer, according to US Attorney General Todd Blanche.

News world Melania Trump Breaks Silence On Jimmy Kimmel's 'Expectant Widow' Jibe Before White House Shooting

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