Trump says ABC should fire Jimmy Kimmel over ‘despicable call to violence’ against First Lady

"Wow," Trump said. "Jimmy Kimmel, who is in no way funny as attested to by his terrible Television Ratings, made a statement on his Show that is really shocking. He showed a fake video of the First Lady, Melania, and our son, Barron, like they were actually sitting in his studio, listening to him speak, which they weren’t, and never would be. He then stated, 'Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.'

"A day later a lunatic tried entering the ballroom of the White House Correspondents Dinner, loaded up with a shotgun, handgun, and many knives. He was there for a very obvious and sinister reason. I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Late-night host Kimmel joked on Thursday during his show that First Lady Melania Trump had the "glow of an expectant widow." He made the remarks during a sketch where he played the host of the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

"And of course, our First Lady Melania is here," said Kimmel during his Thursday show, pretending to be a host of the WHCD. "Look at her, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow." The audience cackled.

"You know, Melania's birthday is on Sunday," Kimmel went on. "That's right, she's planning to celebrate at home the same way she always does, looking out a window and whispering, 'what have I done?'

"As you're all aware," Kimmel went on, "Melania is a movie star now. Her documentary had a score of 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a website named after her husband's testicles.

"And I want to congratulate you, Madam First Lady, on your huge accomplishment, the world's first motionless picture and that, oh, by the way, before we go any further, 'Melania, this is Donald. Donald, this is Melania.' That's my impression of Jeffrey Epstein." The First Lady has no ties to Epstein.

First Lady Trump said on Monday morning that it was time for ABC to "take a stand" against Kimmel. "Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country," she said. "His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens 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. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community."

On Saturday night, suspect Cole Allen, a teacher and game developer from California, was arrested after opening fire outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, where the White House Correspondents Dinner was held. He was discovered to have an array of firearms and knives and social media reveals that he was aggressively anti-Trump.