Melania Trump issues rare public statement calling out 'coward' Jimmy Kimmel's joke
Melania Trump has branded Jimmy Kimmel a 'coward' over his White House Correspondents’ Dinner parody.
On Thursday (23 April) night, Kimmel delivered a parody of the upcoming event on his late-night show, which included a series of pointed jabs at the First Lady and her marriage to US President Donald Trump.
"Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow," he said during the episode.
However, it would appear the First Lady did not see the funny side of Kimmel's joke and has now made a rare public statement calling for ABC to 'take a stand' against the presenter.
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"Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country," she wrote on X earlier today (27 April).
"His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America."
She continued: "People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.
Trump then went on to call out ABC, the broadcaster which airs his show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, adding: "A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.
"Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behaviour at the expense of our community."
It's not clear why Trump decided to address Kimmel's monologue now, however his comments came just days before an active shooter was apprehended at the event.
During Saturday (25 April) night's event, a man armed with guns and knives attempted to enter the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, where the Trump's were in attendance alongside several high-ranking members of the US cabinet.
The suspected shooter, later identified as Cole Allen, was apprehended by the US Secret Service before he was able to gain access to the room, with no reported injuries.
This is the third assassination attempt against the President's life, following a near-miss at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania and a gunman being arrested after gaining access to the 79-year-old's West Palm Springs golf course while he was there.
Melania's comments to ABC come just months after Kimmel was briefly taken off air, following his comments in the aftermath of Turning Point activist Charlie Kirk being fatally shot.
The suspension was lifted just days later, with Kimmel acknowledging that his comments were poorly timed, saying 'it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man'.
Topics: Donald Trump, Melania Trump, US News, Jimmy Kimmel
Brenna Cooper