Kimmel rejects Trump's criticism over Melania joke

US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has said his joke about Melania Trump was not "a call to assassination" after US President Donald Trump said he should be "immediately fired" over the remarks.

Kimmel opened Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday by describing the joke as a light roast about the couple's age difference and "not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination".

The controversy comes after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night.

Days before the incident, Kimmel aired a sketch about the dinner in which he joked that Melania Trump had a "glow like an expectant widow".

In Monday’s monologue, Kimmel said he was sorry that the president and those in attendance at the event had gone through a traumatic and frightening experience.

"I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject," Kimmel said.

"I do, and I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it."

Earlier, Mr Trump criticised the presenter in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, echoing comments from his wife, who called for the US network ABC to "take a stand" against Kimmel.

Mr Trump wrote: "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.

"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."

During the sketch, which aired last week before the dinner, Kimmel joked: "Our first lady, Melania, is here. So beautiful. Mrs Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow."

Melania Trump responded to the sketch in a post shared on X on Monday and described the talk show host as a "coward".

She said: "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 deepen 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 behaviour at the expense of our community."

In September, the late-night presenter was taken off the air and suspended indefinitely following comments he made on the show after the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, an ally of Mr Trump.

The suspension was criticised by members of the public, Hollywood figures and politicians, with critics accusing the US administration of threatening free speech and press freedom.

Kimmel returned to air five days later.

ABC and Kimmel have been contacted for comment.

Source: Press Association