Kimmel Defends White House Joke as Free Speech After Assassination Attempt

Hours after President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired, the host defended his “pretend roast” joke about their age and Melania’s smile as not a call to violence, emphasizing his opposition to gun violence. The suspect in the assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was charged with attempting to assassinate the president. Trump and the First Lady criticized Kimmel on Truth Social and X, while ABC/Disney did not comment; Kimmel reiterated that satire is protected speech and noted his long-standing stance on gun violence.