OAN Staff Addie Davis and Brooke Mallory
11:31 AM – Monday, April 27, 2026
Following the security breach and subsequent shooting at this past weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) Melania Trump condemned ABC host Jimmy Kimmel for his “hateful and violent rhetoric.”
The first lady’s statement on X referenced Kimmel’s April 23rd monologue where he referred to her as an “expectant widow” — a remark under intense scrutiny after the attack by 31-year-old teacher Cole Tomas Allen.
On Saturday night, Allen attempted to storm a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton at around 8:30 p.m. while armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. He exchanged fire with security personnel before being tackled. President Donald Trump, the first lady, and Vice President JD Vance were all safely evacuated from the ballroom immediately after the pops were heard.
“Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow,” Kimmel said during a Thursday segment.
The “comedy bit” in question also repeatedly mocked President Trump and officials, while framing the first lady as being trapped in an unhappy marriage. Following his jokes regarding a divorce, Mrs. Trump took to X on Monday morning to condemn his distasteful “jokes.”
“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,” she stated. “People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”
The first lady also took aim at the network, ABC, accusing them of continuing to enable Kimmel’s behavior.
“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,” she added.
In an interview with CNN, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche noted that preliminary investigative findings suggest that the shooter — who was apprehended on-site — was specifically targeting members of the Trump administration. Following the attack, Trump held a press conference where he described the ordeal as “a rather traumatic experience” for the first lady.
According to the New York Post, Trump recalled her remarking, “That’s a bad noise,” as the gunfire erupted, adding that she has frequently reminded him, “You are in a dangerous job.”
“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. 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!” Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday.
Meanwhile, this incident adds to a series of assassination attempts against the president, most notably the 2024 shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. During that attack, Trump was wounded in the ear, and the gunfire tragically claimed the life of an attendee.
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