Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel turned the tables on President Donald Trump Tuesday, mocking the president for making a joke about his own death just days after demanding Kimmel be fired over a similar remark. The exchange marks the latest escalation in their ongoing public feud.
During an appearance with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the White House, Trump referenced his parents' 63-year marriage and then turned to First Lady Melania Trump, quipping, 'That's a record we won't be able to match, darling.' The 79-year-old president added, 'I'm sorry. It's just not going to work out that way.'
Kimmel played the clip on his ABC show and responded with mock outrage: 'Wait a minute. Did he just make a joke about his death? My god. He should be fired for that.' The audience erupted in applause.
The comedian's jab came after Trump and Melania Trump had called for his firing last week. Kimmel had joked during a mock White House Correspondents' Association dinner that the first lady had the 'glow' of an 'expectant widow.' The remark drew sharp criticism, especially after an armed man opened fire at the Washington Hilton two days later, where Trump and other officials were gathered. Kimmel later clarified the comment was about their age gap, not 'a call to assassination.'
On Monday, Trump demanded that Disney and ABC 'immediately fire' Kimmel. Melania Trump said 'people like Kimmel shouldn't have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,' urging ABC to 'take a stand.' The suspect in the shooting, 31-year-old Cole Allen, was charged Monday with attempting to assassinate the president.
Kimmel noted the irony of Trump's demands. 'Only Donald Trump would demand I be fired for making a joke about his old age and then a day later go out and make a joke about his own old age,' he said.
The feud has broader implications. On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission ordered an early review of broadcast licenses for several Disney-owned local TV stations, including ABC affiliates. David Brown, chief of the FCC's video division, cited possible 'unlawful discrimination' as the reason for the probe. Disney responded by asserting that ABC 'and its stations have a long record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules,' adding that the company is 'confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment.'
The dispute also echoes Trump's broader tensions with the media and his administration's aggressive posture. The White House recently taunted critics with a photo of Trump and Charles dubbed 'Two Kings,' and the image has sparked debate over the president's diplomatic approach. Meanwhile, the FCC's move has raised concerns among press freedom advocates, who see it as a potential weaponization of regulatory power against a network that has drawn Trump's ire.
As the feud continues, Kimmel's latest retort underscores the high-stakes war of words between a sitting president and a late-night comedian, with free speech, regulatory oversight, and public opinion all in play.
