The long-running feud between late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and President Donald Trump exploded in April 2026. What started as a roast joke about First Lady Melania Trump turned into a massive political firestorm following a real-life assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Here is a complete, easy-to-follow timeline of everything that happened, from the original joke to the government getting involved.
The April 23 Joke That Started Everything
On Thursday, April 23, Jimmy Kimmel filmed a parody segment for Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He pretended to be hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, a yearly event where comedians usually make fun of politicians.
During this fake speech, Kimmel looked at a picture of Melania Trump and said: “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”
The comment was meant to poke fun at the large age gap between the President (who is almost 80) and the First Lady (who is 56). Kimmel later explained that he was joking about how happy Melania looks whenever she is away from her husband. At the time, the joke aired without much immediate outrage.
The Shooting at the Real Dinner
Two days later, on Saturday, April 25, the real White House Correspondents’ Dinner took place in Washington, D.C. President Trump and Melania Trump were both in attendance.
Suddenly, a 31-year-old man named Cole Allen rushed a security checkpoint outside the hotel ballroom. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. He exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents. One agent was shot but saved by a bulletproof vest. Allen was arrested on the spot.
Prosecutors later charged Allen with attempting to assassinate the President.
The Backlash: Trump Demands Kimmel Be Fired
In the days following the shooting, clips of Kimmel’s “expectant widow” joke went viral online. Critics and Trump supporters argued that the joke was dangerous and disrespectful given the real violence that had just occurred.
On Monday, April 27, First Lady Melania Trump spoke out on X (formerly Twitter). She called Kimmel a “coward” and said his words were “corrosive” and deepened “the political sickness within America.”
Hours later, President Trump posted on Truth Social. He wrote that Kimmel’s remark was a “despicable call to violence” and that it went “far beyond the pale.” Trump demanded that ABC and Disney fire Kimmel immediately.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also weighed in, asking: “Who, in their right mind, says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?”
Kimmel Fires Back: ‘It Was an Age Joke’
On his show the same night (Monday, April 27), Kimmel defended himself. He denied that the joke had anything to do with assassination or violence.
“It obviously was a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they’re together. It was a very light roast. It was not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination.”
He also expressed sympathy for the traumatic experience the Trumps went through during the shooting, saying he was genuinely sorry they had to go through that scary moment.
The FCC Gets Involved
Things escalated further on Tuesday, April 28. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Trump ally Brendan Carr, launched an “immediate review” of ABC’s TV station licenses.
While the FCC claimed the review was about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices, critics pointed out that the timing—the day after Trump demanded Kimmel be fired—was very suspicious. Media analysts noted that the government rarely challenges licenses like this. The last time the FCC revoked a license over programming was in 1969.
Despite this pressure, sources told CNN that Disney is standing by Kimmel and has no plans to fire him or take him off the air.
Trump Makes His Own Death Joke
In a twist that many found ironic, President Trump made his own joke about dying just one day after demanding Kimmel’s firing.
On Tuesday, April 28, Trump welcomed King Charles III to the White House. During the event, Trump talked about his parents, who were married for 63 years. He turned to Melania and said: “That’s a record we won’t be able to match, darling. I’m sorry. Just not gonna work out that way.”
Kimmel played the clip on his show that night and laughed. “Wait a minute, did he just make a joke about his death? Only Donald Trump would demand I be fired for making a joke about his old age and then, a day later, go out and make a joke about his own old age!” Kimmel said.
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Where Things Stand Now
As of late April 2026, Jimmy Kimmel is still hosting his show on ABC. The network is fighting the FCC’s review, stating they are confident in their legal and constitutional protections. The suspected shooter, Cole Allen, remains in custody facing multiple federal charges, including the attempted assassination of the President.
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Keep reading VvipTimes for the latest updates on the legal battle between ABC and the FCC.
