Former President Donald Trump has reignited his feud with late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, labelling him a “lowlife” and demanding that ABC take action against him. This latest round of conflict comes after Kimmel made an offhand joke about First Lady Melania Trump during a recent episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Trump expressed his discontent in an interview with Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax’s “The Record,” marking the third occasion within a week that he has called for Kimmel’s dismissal.
The controversy began when Kimmel described Melania Trump’s demeanour as having “a glow like an expectant widow,” a remark he later clarified was meant as a “very light roast joke.” He apologised for the distress the couple faced following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25. However, Trump claims he has not seen a formal apology specifically concerning the comment about Melania.
During the Newsmax interview, Trump stated, “I haven’t heard him apologise, but he’s a lowlife whether he apologised or not.” He further stated that Kimmel has consistently used his platform to criticise Republicans and conservatism, asserting that such an approach is inappropriate for a show broadcast on public airwaves. Trump expressed his disbelief that Kimmel remains on air, labelling him “not a funny guy” and noting his lack of ratings.
Trump’s comments come in the wake of social media posts from both Melania Trump and himself, with Melania describing Kimmel’s remarks as “hateful and violent rhetoric.” In response, the former president referenced his past legal battles with ABC News, where he secured significant charitable donations following what he termed false statements made by journalist George Stephanopoulos.
Kimmel addressed the controversy during his own monologue, asserting that his comments were simply playful banter centred around the age difference between the Trumps. He remarked, “It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am. It was not by any stretch a call to assassination.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to question when the “ABC Fake News Network” would take action against the “seriously unfunny” Kimmel, implying that ABC’s continued association with the host could be damaging to the network.
The situation has drawn the attention of Communications Chair Brendan Carr, who has hinted at possible regulatory action against ABC. In a statement, Disney, the parent company of ABC, reaffirmed its compliance with FCC regulations and its commitment to delivering trusted news and educational programming to its local audiences.
Historically, Kimmel’s tenure has not been without controversy; he faced similar backlash in September 2025 over his comments regarding the passing of far-right commentator Charlie Kirk, although he returned to the airwaves a week later.
As the feud unfolds, it remains uncertain how it will impact Kimmel’s show and Trump’s ongoing public persona. While both figures continue to exchange barbs, reactions from the public and media alike suggest that the confrontation is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon.
Kimmel’s approach in addressing Trump’s latest accusations may also set a precedent for how late-night hosts manage political satire in an increasingly charged environment, where the line between comedy and confrontation is becoming ever more blurred.