Trump pressures ABC: 'When will you fire Jimmy Kimmel?'

U.S. President Donald Trump has again demanded that the late-night host Jimmy Kimmel be fired by ABC after he made a joke about his wife, Melania.

Taking to Truth Social, he wrote, "WHEN IS ABC FAKE NEWS NETWORK FIRING SERIOUSLY UNFUNNY JIMMY KIMMEL, WHO INCOMPETENTLY PRESIDES OVER ONE OF THE LOWEST RATED SHOWS ON TELEVISION? PEOPLE ARE ANGRY. IT BETTER BE SOON!!! PRESIDENT DJT 8 28 122."

Advertisement

The tweet follows the Federal Communications Commission's order for an early review of Disney's broadcasting license for its local ABC television stations.

The decision was part of an investigation into Disney's alleged DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – practices; however, an insider told NBC the review was fast-tracked after Kimmel took a swipe at Melania.

“The FCC determines that calling in Disney’s ABC licences for early renewal, at this time, under the Communications Act’s public interest standard is essential within the meaning of agency regulations,” the agency said.

The joke, which caused an uproar, was delivered by Kimmel at an alternative White House Correspondents' Dinner.

“You have a glow like an expectant widow,” he said while poking fun at the first lady.

“You know, Melania’s birthday is on Sunday. She’s planning to celebrate at home the way she always does — looking out a window and whispering, ‘What have I done?'”

Two days after his quip, a gunman stormed the White House Correspondents' Dinner, prompting statements by Melania and Trump for calling for Kimmel's firing.

However, a report in Page Six quotes a source that the network “is sticking by the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host and doesn’t plan to suspend him, fire him, or cancel the show.”