Disney Faces Firestorm as Trump Demands Ouster of Jimmy Kimmel over Widow Joke
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump urged Disney to fire Jimmy Kimmel after his April 23 White House Correspondents’ Dinner skit quipped Melania had “a glow like an expectant widow,” calling it “despicable.” Their demand followed a shooting attempt at the dinner and puts ABC under scrutiny.
1. Trump's Demand to Fire Kimmel
On April 27, President Donald Trump posted that Jimmy Kimmel should be “immediately fired” by Disney and ABC after the host’s mock White House Correspondents’ Dinner routine, labelling it “far beyond the pale.” First Lady Melania Trump echoed the criticism, calling the monologue “corrosive” and accusing ABC leadership of enabling hateful content.
2. Details of the Controversial Skit
During the April 23 segment, Kimmel staged a parody dinner intro featuring a fake video of the Trumps and joked that Melania had “a glow like an expectant widow.” Critics cited the sketch’s timing—days before an attempted attack on the actual dinner—as especially insensitive.
3. Implications for Disney and ABC
The calls for Kimmel’s firing intensify scrutiny on ABC, part of Disney Entertainment Television, raising questions about advertiser support, affiliate relations and internal content standards. Disney has not announced any disciplinary action, leaving investors to weigh potential brand and revenue fallout.