**Jimmy Kimmel Faces Backlash Over Jokes about Trump and Melania**
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Comedian Jimmy Kimmel has continued to make jokes about President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, illustrating a defiance in the face of criticism and pressure from the White House. Kimmel, the host of the late-night show *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, showcased his trademark humour during an episode on 4 May, despite warnings from officials.
In this latest segment, Kimmel ridiculed Trump’s activity on Truth Social, the president’s preferred social media platform. The comedian highlighted a recent post made by Trump, which featured an uncaptioned photo of Melania. “At 11:04, he posted this even more unbelievable picture of Melania smiling,” Kimmel quipped, prompting laughter from his studio audience. “I don’t know the last time we saw that.”
The host also referenced comments made by Trump at a retirement event in Florida, where the president claimed Melania “hates” it when he dances to the Village People’s hit “Y.M.C.A.,” which Trump referred to as “the gay national anthem.” Kimmel seized the moment to make light of the situation, stating, “Melania hates when you do things? No way! I can’t believe it. What a buzzkill. Why would she hate that? It’s so much fun.”
Kimmel’s comments come after a more serious critique from Melania Trump herself. She issued a rare public statement following an April episode of the show, where Kimmel joked that she had “a glow like an expectant widow.” This remark was made mere days before an incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where a man attempted to breach security with severe intentions towards the president.
In response to Kimmel’s gag, Melania described the comedian’s rhetoric as “hateful and violent.” She expressed her concerns on the social media platform X, stressing the negative impact such jokes could have on audiences, asserting that enterprising comedians like Kimmel should not be allowed to enter homes and disseminate hate unchallenged. “Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand,” she added.
Following the backlash, Kimmel defended his comments, describing his joke as “obvious.” He explained that it was intended as a light-hearted roast regarding the age difference between Trump and Melania. Addressing the First Lady directly, Kimmel expressed sympathies for the traumatic experience endured by her and others during the incident at the dinner: “I am sorry that you and the president and everyone in that room on Saturday went through that.”
The clash has escalated to the point where President Trump himself has weighed in, labelling Kimmel “a lowlife,” and stated that he should not remain on television, regardless of any potential apologies made. This sentiment was echoed by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, who did not hold back in his critique, branding Kimmel a “s*** human being” and calling for immediate action against him.
Amidst increasing scrutiny, ABC and its parent company, Disney, are reportedly under pressure from the Trump administration to dismiss Kimmel from the network. This comes after a previous suspension of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* over Kimmel’s contentious remarks related to conservative figures.
In an unusual move, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also announced a review of ABC’s station licences. Although Kimmel’s name was not mentioned explicitly, the investigation appears to relate to alleged infractions of federal law by local ABC affiliates regarding unlawful discrimination.
As the media landscape continues to grapple with the implications of political discourse in comedy, Kimmel’s ongoing jests about the Trumps highlight the intersection of humour and public opinion in a polarised political climate. With the White House now more vocal than ever about media conduct, the ramifications for late-night comedy are becoming increasingly complex.