Jimmy Kimmel Faces Backlash After Calling Melania Trump ‘an Expectant Widow’ Days Before WHCA Scare

Jimmy Kimmel found himself back in the hot seat after comments he made about Melania Trump riled up social media users.

During the April 23 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, just two days before a shooter breached security at the White House Correspondents Association dinner, Kimmel, 58, poked fun at everyone from President Donald Trump to Melania to Kash Patel and more.

His jab at Melania, 55, led to major backlash online.

“Of course, our First Lady Melania is here,” Kimmel said. “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”

The comment didn’t receive much attention until a shooter was apprehended the night of the WHCA dinner. Donald, 79, and Melania were quickly whisked off stage when shots rang out at the dinner being held at the Washington D.C. Hilton on Saturday, April 25. However, the situation put Kimmel’s comments in a darker light.

“I am so deeply sick of Jimmy Kimmel and the hate he spreads in the world,” conservative commentator Meghan McCain wrote via X on Sunday, April 26.

“This JIMMY KIMMEL is a SICK DEMENTED PERSON WHO WANTS OUR PRESIDENT DEAD!” actor Rob Schneider added. “How the former family friendly ‘entertainment’ company ⁦@DisneyStudios continues to pay for this cretinous scumbag is as inexplicable as it is disgraceful.”

Dave Rubin, host of The Rubin Report, chimed in and said, “JIMMY KIMMEL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OFF THE AIR NOW. Enough is enough.”

The comments about the first lady may have gotten the most attention, but Kimmel also took aim at other members of the Trump administration.

The late night host called Stephen Miller, the Homeland Security Advisor, “racist” and joked that the “reason he went bald is because his hair was black.”

Kimmel also took a jab at FBI Director Kash Patel and referenced his recent lawsuit against The Atlantic after a report claimed that his alleged alcohol consumption had begun to impede his ability to do his job.

“Waitress, can we get Kash a vodka soda and a booster seat, please?” Kimmel quipped.

The dinner, which was the first time the Apprentice alum attended the dinner as president, was being livestreamed. Multiple videos circulating on social media show the chaos that broke out when the gun was fired.

The suspected gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, was arrested and is due to make his first appearance in federal court today, per CBS News.