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Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made headlines Tuesday (April 29) after he poked fun at President Donald Trump for a joke the president made about his age and marriage length during a White House event with King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The exchange came amid an ongoing feud between Kimmel and the Trump family and heightened scrutiny of Kimmel’s comedic material.
During the official welcome for King Charles and Queen Camilla at the White House, President Trump referenced his parents’ 63-year marriage and turned to his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, quipping, "That’s a record we won’t be able to match, darling. I’m sorry. It’s just not going to work out that way." The comment, made in front of the royal guests, quickly drew attention from the media and late-night hosts.
Kimmel played the clip on his show, then remarked, "Wait a minute. Did he just make a joke about his death? My god. He should be fired for that," to laughter from the studio audience.
This moment followed recent tension between Kimmel and the Trump family. Last week, Kimmel had joked that Melania Trump had the "glow" of an "expectant widow," referencing the age gap between the president, who is 79, and Melania, 56. The joke prompted public condemnation from both President Trump and the First Lady, with Melania Trump calling for ABC to fire Kimmel, stating, "People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate."
President Trump echoed this sentiment on Truth Social, calling Kimmel's joke "a despicable call to violence" and demanding his immediate termination by Disney and ABC.
Kimmel defended his comments as a "light roast joke" about the couple’s age difference and denied any encouragement of violence, emphasizing his long-standing advocacy against gun violence. He also underscored that free speech protections apply to all, including the president and first lady.
The controversy comes as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initiated a review of several Disney-owned local television station licenses, prompted in part by concerns over "unlawful discrimination," though not officially tied to Kimmel’s remarks. Disney stated it is confident in its compliance with FCC rules and its record of serving communities, according to The Hill.
No immediate action has been announced by ABC or Disney regarding Kimmel’s position, and the FCC review is expected to proceed in the coming weeks.