President Donald Trump called on ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday, escalating his criticism of the network and comedian over a joke about first lady Melania Trump.
Trump posted on Truth Social demanding the dismissal, writing that Kimmel presides over “one of the Lowest Rated shows on Television” and that “People are angry.” The president followed up with an appearance on Newsmax, stating that Kimmel “shouldn’t be on television” and that ABC was “putting themselves in great jeopardy” by keeping him.
What Triggered the Dispute
The controversy began after Kimmel made a joke last week comparing Melania Trump’s expression to that of an “expectant widow,” referencing the age difference between the first couple. Melania Trump responded by calling the joke “hateful and violent” and urging ABC to take action.
Kimmel defended the remark during his show this week, saying it was “a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am.” He added that the joke was about their age difference, not about assassination, saying “they know that.”
The FCC’s Involvement
Following Melania Trump’s complaint, the Federal Communications Commission ordered Disney-owned ABC to seek early broadcast license renewals for eight television stations, according to NPR. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr indicated the agency could take additional steps if it found the broadcaster had not served the public interest.
“We can accelerate when a license comes due and say, ‘hey, we have significant concerns with the value of conducting your operations,'” Carr said on a podcast. “If we find that a broadcast hasn’t been doing that, then the statute requires us to issue a hearing designation order.”
Disney and ABC’s Response
Disney, ABC’s parent company, has not yielded to pressure from Trump or the FCC’s licensing challenge. The company declined to comment on calls to fire Kimmel, who remains under contract through next year.
ABC has continued airing his late-night show without taking steps to distance itself from the host. This mirrors Disney’s stance following Trump’s $16 million defamation settlement with ABC News in 2024.
Kimmel Moves Forward
Kimmel addressed the controversy during his Tuesday broadcast, avoiding direct mention of the FCC’s actions. Instead, he used a satirical monologue about a royal visit to highlight what he characterized as hypocrisy in the president’s public statements.
This story has been updated. CNN’s media team contributed to this report.