U.S. President Donald Trump demanded the immediate dismissal of Jimmy Kimmel by ABC and its parent company, Walt Disney. Trump and his wife Melania criticized Kimmel for a monologue he delivered before a recent shooting incident near a gathering of journalists and politicians. Kimmel’s segment last Thursday, parodying the White House correspondents’ dinner, made a controversial comment about Melania Trump. Shortly after, a shooting occurred in the lobby of the Washington Hilton where an individual identified as Cole Allen fired at Secret Service agents before being apprehended.
In response to the criticism, Kimmel defended his joke as a light-hearted roast about the couple’s age gap and not a call for violence. Melania Trump denounced Kimmel’s remarks as corrosive and called for ABC to take action against his behavior. Trump condemned Kimmel’s joke as unacceptable and insisted on his immediate termination by Disney and ABC.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered an early review of Disney’s licenses, including eight ABC stations, prompted by an ongoing investigation into diversity practices. The FCC’s move escalated tensions between the administration and media outlets, with Disney vowing to defend its compliance with FCC rules.
The controversy surrounding Kimmel also led to his show being temporarily pre-empted by ABC, sparking debates on freedom of speech and government interference in media. The episode garnered significant viewership upon Kimmel’s return, where he apologized for his previous comments. Trump hinted at possible legal action against ABC but eventually, ABC and Kimmel reached a contract extension through May 2027.
