Melania Trump rips WHCA sketch recorded before shooting: ‘Kimmel hides behind ABC’

First lady Melania Trump called on ABC to punish comedian Jimmy Kimmel over a sketch during which the late-night host joked that she had the “glow” of an “expectant widow.”

Kimmel’s sketch aired Thursday evening, two days before a shooting outside the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, where authorities say an armed man attempted to gain entry to the Washington Hilton ballroom targeting President Trump and other administration officials.

“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 deepens the political sickness within America,” the first lady said in a statement posted on social media. “People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”

Melania Trump called Kimmel a “coward” and said he “hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.”

It is time for ABC to take a stand,” she continued

“Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand,” she continued. “How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community.”

A representative for Disney, ABC’s parent company, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump on Monday called for Kimmel to be fired for his comments.

He then stated, “Our First Lady, Melania, is here

“Wow, 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,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “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.”

Last summer, Kimmel was briefly suspended by ABC over jokes he made about the response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel’s suspension came after pressure from the Trump administration that he be taken off the air, and the comedian returned days later, apologizing for his comments about the shooting.