Critics reject Jimmy Kimmel's defense of his 'expectant widow' joke, key White House figure calls for firing
Jimmy Kimmel is facing widespread criticism for a joke referring to Melania Trump as an 'expectant widow,' which many, including White House officials, have condemned as inappropriate and incendiary. Kimmel defended the comment as a lighthearted roast about President Trump's age, not a call for violence. The backlash intensified after a recent attack near the White House, with calls for Kimmel to be fired from ABC. While some media figures have defended him, others, including Trump allies, accuse him of promoting dangerous rhetoric.
- ▪Jimmy Kimmel made a joke referring to Melania Trump as an 'expectant widow,' sparking national controversy.
- ▪White House director of communications Steven Cheung called Kimmel a 's--- human' and demanded his immediate firing.
- ▪Kimmel defended the joke as a light roast about Donald Trump's age, denying it was a call to violence.
- ▪The controversy follows a recent incident where a man was arrested for allegedly attempting to assassinate the president.
- ▪ABC, owned by Disney, has not issued a formal response, though Kimmel's contract was recently extended to 2027.
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Media Critics reject Jimmy Kimmel's defense of his 'expectant widow' joke, key White House figure calls for firing Steven Cheung called Kimmel a 's--- human' and said ABC needs to fire him immediately for the joke By Brian Flood Fox News Published April 28, 2026 12:08pm EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Jimmy Kimmel defends expectant widow joke targeting Melania Trump Jimmy Kimmel faces backlash for his expectant widow joke about Melania Trump. Fox News contributor Joe Concha joined Fox & Friends First to discuss his response amid backlash.
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