- By Swati Singh
- Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:50 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is facing backlash over a controversial joke about Melania Trump, calling her an 'expectant widow'. The remark, made shortly before a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, drew criticism, with Donald Trump urging ABC to fire him. Amid the controversy, George Clooney has come out in support of Kimmel.
According to Variety, George Clooney said, "Jimmy’s a comedian and I would argue that Karoline Leavitt didn’t mean shots should be fired. She was making a joke. Fair enough. You look at that side and go, 'Well, jokes are jokes'. But the rhetoric is a little dangerous. And we’ve seen it a lot lately. When one side is calling anyone they disagree with traitors to the country, which is a charge that’s punishable by death, just because they don’t agree with someone, I think the rhetoric is a little too heated."
He further added, "I always have faith in the press. I always believe in it. I’m the son of a journalist, you know? I also think that you’re not supposed to have a good relationship with government. You’re supposed to be questioning them. The people that I support- the Democrats. So, I’m a Democrat. I make no apologies for it."
George Clooney DEFENDS Jimmy Kimmel after “expectant widow” Melania comment.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 28, 2026
“Jimmy’s a comedian. And I would argue Karoline Leavitt didn’t mean ‘shots should be fired’ she was making a joke- fair enough. So I look at that side and go jokes are jokes.” pic.twitter.com/RJVJPU7ydr
"The people that I support – Bill Clinton, Barack Obama – they didn’t enjoy getting chased down by reporters. People in power don’t like to have to answer all the questions in the world. That’s fair. They shouldn’t enjoy it. And the reporters should make sure that they hold people’s feet to the fire. That’s the rules," said Clooney.
The controversy intensified after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, where a gunman attempted to breach a security checkpoint and opened fire, injuring a Secret Service agent. The suspect was quickly taken into custody, and top officials, including Donald Trump, were safely evacuated.
Days earlier, Jimmy Kimmel had mocked the event on his show, making a controversial remark about Melania Trump, which has since drawn heavy backlash in light of the incident.
She wrote, "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. 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 behavior at the expense of our community."