Trump accuses kimmel of ‘hateful rhetoric’ after white house shooting
Melania Trump unleashed a blistering condemnation of Jimmy Kimmel following the chaotic shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner, accusing him of fueling division with ‘hateful and violent rhetoric’ and demanding ABC take action.
A barrage of accusations – and a reminder of past conflicts
The First Lady’s sharp response, delivered via X, centered on a monologue Kimmel delivered weeks prior, one that notably referenced her as an “expectant widow” amidst discussions about the Trumps’ connections to Jeffrey Epstein. This wasn’t a new attack; ABC had already suspended Kimmel in September after a threatened rebuke from FCC Chair Brendan Carr over inflammatory jokes about the president.
But the situation escalated dramatically after Saturday’s shooting.The incident provoked immediate controversy, with Carr’s actions sparking accusations of a direct assault on free speech. ABC swiftly reinstated Kimmel, but the fallout continued. Now, Trump is doubling down, painting Kimmel as a ‘coward’ reliant on ABC’s protection and calling for his removal.
Her post read: “Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy – his words are corrosive and deepen the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate. A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him. Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand.”
This isn’t an isolated incident. Critics of the Trump administration have consistently highlighted instances of inflammatory rhetoric emanating from the White House and the president himself – from calls to ‘knock the crap out’ of protesters to urging supporters to ‘fight like hell’ following the 2020 election. The accusations follow a pattern of using divisive language to galvanize support.
The Republican response has been swift and unified.Meghan McCain, a prominent conservative voice, echoed Trump’s sentiment, stating bluntly: “I am so deeply sick of Jimmy Kimmel and the hate he spreads in the world.”
ABC has yet to respond to a request for comment from The Guardian, but the pressure is mounting. This latest salvo from Melania Trump underscores a deeply fraught relationship between the Trump family and the media, and raises serious questions about the boundaries of acceptable speech – and the responsibilities of platforms like ABC.