U.S. President Donald Trump renewed pressure on ABC on Thursday to fire late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel immediately, warning the matter "best be resolved as soon as possible." Trump posted on Truth Social: "When is the ABC Fake News Network going to fire the unfunny Jimmy Kimmel? He is incompetently hosting one of the lowest-rated shows on television. People are angry. This better be fixed ASAP!"
The spark of the controversy was a joke Kimmel made on the show on April 23. At that time, he imitated hosting the White House Correspondents' Association dinner and said to Melania Trump on camera: "Mrs. Trump, you exude the brilliance of a 'widow-to-be.'" Two days after the show was broadcast, a shooting occurred at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. A Secret Service agent was injured, and the Trumps and others were evacuated. The Trumps believe Kimmel's comments incited violence.
First lady Melania had previously posted a message on social platform
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission ordered on Tuesday to initiate an "early review" of the licenses of eight ABC television stations, requiring them to submit renewal applications within 30 days. The licenses were originally scheduled to expire in 2028. The decision to advance censorship marks a sharp escalation in the battle between the Trump administration and the mainstream media. Disney said it had received the notice and emphasized its "longstanding and full compliance with FCC regulations."
Kimmel responded on Monday's show that it was just a joke to poke fun at the Trumps' age gap. "He was almost 80 years old and she was younger than me," Kimmel said. "This was not in any way an incitement to assassinate."
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Trump says ABC should fire late-night talk show host Kimmel