Trump Escalates Feud, Pressures ABC to Oust Jimmy Kimmel
Donald Trump reignited his feud with Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday, demanding ABC dump the late-night host and deriding his show as unfunny and among TV’s lowest rated in a blistering Truth Social post.
We have officially entered the part of the news cycle where the sitting president is demanding a network fire a late-night host by name. Again. Here is where the latest Trump vs. Kimmel round started, why it blew up, and how everyone involved is making sure it stays loud.
Trump cranks up the volume
On Thursday, April 30, President Donald Trump, 79, used Truth Social to go after ABC and Jimmy Kimmel by name, pushing for the network to dump the 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' host.
'When is ABC Fake News Network firing seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel, who incompetently presides over one of the Lowest Rated shows on Television? People are angry. It better be soon!!!'
Subtle? Not especially. But very on-brand for a feud that has run through Trump’s current term like a recurring sketch.
What set this off
The spark this time was Kimmel, 58, calling Melania Trump, 56, an 'expectant widow' during a recent monologue. Days later, an assassination attempt occurred at the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner. In the fallout, both Donald and Melania publicly pushed ABC to take action against Kimmel.
Melania posted a statement on Monday, April 27, saying Kimmel’s bit about their family wasn’t comedy, accused it of feeding America’s political sickness, and argued people like Kimmel shouldn’t be given a nightly platform to spread hate into viewers’ homes.
Kimmel responds on air
That same Monday, Kimmel opened his show by acknowledging the first lady’s demand that he be fired. He explained the joke was about the couple’s age gap and the way she appears when they are together, not anything remotely calling for violence. He also pointed out he has spent years speaking out against gun violence.
Kimmel then recognized how frightening the weekend was, apologized for what the president, the first lady, and the attendees experienced, and said that even without fatalities, it was traumatic. He closed by saying everyone should try to come together and, in his words, be best.
The larger pattern
If you’ve been watching this long-running bit, you know Kimmel has leaned into politics on his show, especially during Trump’s current term. Earlier this month on Michelle Obama’s 'IMO' podcast, he said talking about what’s happening in the country feels obvious and unavoidable for him — that ignoring it would be embarrassing — and that his job is to reflect what’s going on in people’s lives.
Quick timeline
- Earlier in April: Kimmel jokes that Melania is an 'expectant widow.'
- Days later: An assassination attempt hits the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner.
- Mon, April 27: Melania posts a statement condemning Kimmel and urging ABC to act. Kimmel addresses it on his show that night, clarifies the joke, reiterates his stance against gun violence, and apologizes for the weekend’s trauma.
- Thu, April 30: Trump blasts Kimmel on Truth Social and calls for ABC to fire him.
Where does this go next? If history is any guide, nowhere quiet. The show goes on — and so does the feud.